State of New Mexico€¦ · Pollutant Load Reduction Reporting 17 Effectiveness Monitoring of NPS Pollution Controls 17 Summaries for 319 ... Program are reported on pages 6-9. Significant

State of New Mexico NONPOINT SOURCE

MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

2017 Annual ReportNew Mexico Environment Department

Surface Water Quality BureauWatershed Protection Section

State of New MexicoNonpoint Source Management Program

2017 Annual Report

Published By:

The New Mexico Environment DepartmentSurface Water Quality BureauWatershed Protection Section1190 St. Francis DriveSanta Fe, New Mexico 87502

In cooperation with:

The Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Forestry Division, United States For-est Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Copies of this report and other reports are available on the Surface Water Quality Bureau website: www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/watershed-protection-section/

SUSANA MARTINEZ Governor

JOHN A. SANCHEZ Lt. Governor

January 31, 2018

David Garcia

NEW MEXICO

ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT

Harold Runnels Building 1190 South St. Francis Drive (87505)

P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM 87502-5469 Phone (505) 827-0187 Fax (505) 827-0160

www.env.run.gov

Acting Water Division Director U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6 1445 Ross Ave., Suite 1200 Dallas, Texas 75202

Dear Mr. Garcia,

BUTCH TONGATE Cabinet Secretary

J.C. BORREGO Deputy Secretary

I am pleased to submit New Mexico's 2017 Nonpoint Source Management Program Annual Report. In this report we document the progress made in meeting the program milestones set forth in our Nonpoint Source Management Program.

The Nonpoint Source Management Program has six core objectives and I would like to briefly highlight our accomplishments made during 2017 for each:

1. Under the watershed-based planning objective, the Black Canyon Watershed-Based Plan (WBP) was completed and accepted by EPA in May 2017. A WBP for portions of the large Rio Puerco basin was submitted for final review in 2017. Both plans were reviewed by Region 6, and meet the planning elements in the Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories.

2. We report the successful completion of two projects funded under Section 319 that address water quality problems. We are also glad to report that NMED is supporting five new projects that implement WBPs beginning in 2017, also funded under Section 319.

3. To better protect water quality, The Surface Water Quality Bureau issued conditional certification for 52 Nationwide Section 404 permits, and reviewed 62 projects covered by existing Section 404 permits for consistency with their certifications. Nonpoint Source Program staff also carried out their responsibilities related to surface water quality protection under the New Mexico Mining Act.

4. Related to education and outreach, four issues of the newsletter Clearing the Waters were published in 2017. Additional publications, workshops, and field tours were included in projects completed in 2017. Of special note, the technical guide titled The Plug and Pond

Mr. David Garcia January 31, 2018 Page 2 of2

Treatment: Restoring Sheetflow to High Elevation Slope Wetlands in New Mexico documents innovative restoration techniques developed under a completed Wetland Program project.

5. In groundwater quality protection, the New Mexico Environment Department's Groundwater Quality Bureau conducted ten water fairs where local residents could have well water tested, and issued twelve permits for large septic tank leachfield systems and surface disposal sites.

6. Finally, we report promising developments related to interagency cooperation and coordination. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reported significant implementation now underway under the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). NMED also formed a Nonpoint Source Advisory Committee and conducted two public workshops to collect early input from the committee for the next revision of New Mexico's NPS Management Program Plan.

We thank you for your support of these efforts and look forward to working together to improve water quality and reduce nonpoint source pollution in New Mexico in the future. Should you have any questions about New Mexico's Nonpoint Source Management Program Annual Report please feel free to contact me (505-827-2819) or Abe Franklin of my staff (505-827-2793).

Sincerely,

Shelly Lemon

Bureau Chief Surface Water Quality Bureau

New Mexico Nonpoint Source Management Program

2017 Annual Report

Executive Summary 1Introduction 3 What is Nonpoint Source Pollution? 3 Clean Water Act Section 319 4 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) and 305(b) 4New Mexico’s Nonpoint Point Source Management Program 5 NPS Management Program Milestones 6 NPS Management Program Objectives Completed in 2017 9 Interagency Cooperation Highlights 11 NPS Management Program Objectives for 2018 13 NPS Management Program Problems and Concerns 15 Pollutant Load Reduction Reporting 17 EffectivenessMonitoringofNPSPollutionControls 17 Summaries for 319(h) Projects Completed in 2017 20 New Mexico’s River Stewardship Program 24 Wetlands Program 33 Wetlands Program Plan Update 33 Funding Awarded to the Wetlands Program 2017 33 Wetlands Roundtables 34 Wetlands Across Borders Workshop 35 New Wetlands Program Publications 36Wetlands Projects Completed in 2017 37Other Water Quality Protection Programs 41 Monitoring, Assessment and Standards Program 41 Water Quality Surveys 41 Clean Water Act §303(d)/§305(b) Integrated Report Update 42 Water Quality Standards Update -Triennial Review 43Use Attainability Analyses and Aquatic Life Use Changes 44Other Standards Updates 45 TMDL Update 45 Outreach 46 Ground Water Quality Bureau 47 Permitting and Compliance Assistance for Large Capacity SepticTank/Leachfields 47 New Mexico Water Fair and Water-Quality Outreach Program 47 CWASection401CertificationActivities 49 New Mexico Mining Act Activities 50

Table of Contents

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2017 Annual Report

Additional Management Practices by Non-NMED Agencies 53 Bureau of Land Management Projects 53 New Mexico State Forestry Division 55 US Forest Service Projects 59 Carson National Forest 59 Cibola National Forest 69 Gila National Forest 71 Lincoln National Forest 75 Santa Fe 79Natural Resources Conservation Service 79

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2017 Annual Report

This annual report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides an overview of Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program related activities conducted in New Mexico in 2017. Polluted runoff, or nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, is defined by EPA as “caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground and carrying natural and human-made pollutants into lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, estuaries, and other coastal waters and ground water. Atmospheric depo-sition and hydrologic modification are also sources of nonpoint source pollution.” NPS pollution is the leading cause of water quality degradation in the United States and poses a substantial problem for the health of New Mexico’s rivers, wetlands, lakes and streams. When Congress amended the CWA in 1987, Section 319 was added to provide federal leadership to assist states, territories and tribes in developing programs that address NPS pollution. Under Section 319, states, territories and tribes receive grant funding to support activities such as: outreach and education, training, implementation of best management practices (BMPs), and monitoring to assess implementation efficacy.

Milestones are an integral part of the NPS Management Program and a requirement under Section 319(b)(2)(c) of the CWA. The milestones for which a specific schedule is provided in the Nonpoint Source Management Program are reported on pages 6-9. Significant achievements include:

• A request for grant applications (RFGA) to develop comprehensive projects that will revise existing Wa-tershed-Based Plans (WBP) or develop new WBPs was released in November 2017, with applications due in January 2018.

• The Black Canyon Watershed-Based Plan was completed and accepted by EPA in May 2017. A WBP for portions of the large Rio Puerco basin was submitted for final review in 2017.

• The Cimarron WBP was revised in 2017 to include detailed reach assessments, and the Moreno Valley Wetlands Action Plan was also included as an appendix.

• A Request for Proposals (RFP) for Section 319 funded projects which implement WBPs was completed in 2017 resulting in five new projects which are in progress.

• Two implementation projects scheduled to be complete in 2017 were completed as planned.

• State-funded watershed and riparian restoration projects were developed and managed in 2017. Fifteen projects were in progress at the beginning of the year, two were completed and several were nearing com-pletion at the end of 2017. An RFP for new River Stewardship Program projects was completed in 2017, and fourteen new projects began in the spring.

• A Success Story nomination for Bluewater Creek was accepted in December 2017.

• The Surface Water Quality Bureau newsletter Clearing the Waters, was published four times.

• The US Army Corps of Engineers developed new Nationwide Permits under Section 404 in 2016, and NMED certified them on March 1, 2017.

Executive Summary

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2017 Annual Report

• The New Mexico Wetlands Program Plan 2017 update was approved on March 14, 2017.

• Two new Wetlands Program Development projects and one new partial project have been awarded. One project funded under CWA Section 104(b)(3) Wetlands Program Development Grants was completed this year.

• ThePlugandPondTreatment:RestoringSheetflow toHighElevationSlopeWetlands inNewMexico technical guide was completed in 2017 with funds from CWA Section 104(b)(3).

In addition, five National Forests, the Bureau of Land Management, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the New Mexico State Forestry Division provided information for the report on their activities related to NPS pollution control in 2017.

Executive Summary

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2017 Annual Report

Thisannual report to theUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgency (EPA)providesanoverviewofnonpointsourcemanagementrelatedactivitiesconductedinNewMexicoin2017bytheWatershedProtec-tionSection(WPS)oftheNewMexicoEnvironmentDepartment(NMED)SurfaceWaterQualityBureau(SWQB).Thereportpresentsthestate’sprogressinmeetingthemilestonesoutlinedinthegoalsandobjec-tivesoftheNewMexicoNonpointSourceManagementProgram,andprovidesinformationonreductionsinnonpointsource(NPS)pollutantloadingandimprovementstowaterqualityofNewMexicowatershedsasrequiredunderSection319(h)(11)oftheCleanWaterAct(CWA).ThemajorityoffundingtosupporttheNewMexicoNonpointSourceManagementProgramwasprovidedby319(h)grantsawardedtoNMEDbytheEPA.ActivitiesandprojectsreportedareCWASection319projects,andthoseimplementedbythestate-fundedRiverStewardshipProgram,theNewMexicoWetlandsProgram,CWASection401activities,N.M.MiningActactivities,andNPSprojectsimplementedbyothernaturalresourceagenciesoutsideofNMED.

What is Nonpoint Source Pollution?Pollutedrunoff,orNPSpollution,isdefinedbytheEPAas“causedbyrainfallorsnowmeltmovingoverandthroughthegroundandcarryingnaturalandhuman-madepollutantsintolakes,rivers,streams,wetlands,es-tuaries,andothercoastalwatersandgroundwater.Atmosphericdepositionandhydrologicmodificationarealsosourcesofnonpointsourcepollution.”

AfewexamplesofNPSpollutioninclude:

Introduction

DebrisandrunoffflowingintotheGal-linas River in the City of Las Vegas,NewMexico.

Increased water temperature resultingfrom degraded streambanks, loss ofstreambankvegetation,andhydromodi-ficationisanotherexampleofNPSpol-lution. New Mexico’s most commonkindsofNPSpollutionaretemperature,nutrients,andbacteria.

◊ bacteriaandnitratesfromagingoroutofcompliancesepticsystems◊ sedimentandashfromforestandrangelandfires◊ oil,greaseandotherhydrocarbonsfromparkinglotsandroads◊ sedimentsfrompoorlydesignedunpavedroads◊ fertilizers,nutrientsandbacteriafromagriculturalpractices◊ bacteriafrompetwaste

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2017 Annual Report

Clean Water Act Section 319

NPSpollutionistheleadingcauseofwaterqualitydegradationintheUnitedStatesandposesasubstantialproblemforthehealthofNewMexico’srivers,wetlands,lakesandstreams.WhenCongressamendedtheCWAin1987,Section319wasaddedtoprovidefederalleadershiptoassiststates,territoriesandtribesinde-velopingprogramsthataddressNPSpollution.UnderSection319,states,territories,andtribesreceivegrantfundingtosupportthefollowingactivities:outreachandeducation,training,implementationofbestmanage-mentpractices(BMPs),andmonitoringtoassess implementationefficacy.At theheartof theSection319programinNewMexicoisworkingwithstakeholderstoseeksolutionsthroughcollaborationindevelopingandimplementingwatershed-basedplansthatmitigateNPSpollution.

Section319containsthreemainstrategiesforaddressingNPSpollution:◊ RequiresstatestoprepareassessmentreportsoftheirNPSpollutionproblems.◊ RequiresstatestodevelopamanagementprogramtocontrolNPSpollutionandimprovewater

qualityproblemswithinthestate.◊ Createsagrantprogramtofundimplementationofthemanagementprogramfortheassessmentand

controlofNPSpollution.

Clean Water Act Sections 303(d) and 305(b)TwosectionsoftheCWAdesignedtomanagebothpointsourcesandNPSareSections303and305.UnderSection303(d),statesarerequiredtolistallpollutedsurfacewatersintheirjurisdictionwhichdonotmeetstatewaterqualitystandards(alsoknownasthe“impairedwaters”list).UnderSection305(b),statesmustpublishabiennialreportonthehealthofallsurfacewaters.InNewMexico,the305(b)reportincludesthe303(d)listandisreferredtoastheStateofNewMexicoCWA§303(d)/§305(b)IntegratedReport.

Stakeholders participate ina field tour of Holy GhostCreek to discuss potentialprojectlocations.

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2017 Annual Report

New Mexico’s Nonpoint Source Management Program

Theoverall,long-termgoalofNewMexico’sNPSManagementProgramis:

To implement an adaptive watershed-based restoration and protection programwiththeactiveassistanceofstakeholders,forallwatershedswithinNewMexico,tomeetandmaintainwaterqualitystandardsanddesignatedusesofsurfacewaterandgroundwaterresources.

AsleadagencyforthemanagementofNPSpollution,NMEDcoordinatesactivitieswithinthestatethroughtheSWQBandtheGroundWaterQualityBureau(GWQB).InaccordancewiththeCWA,theSWQBhasdevelopedaNonpointSourceManagementProgramplanningdocument(NPSManagementPlan).Thecur-rentNPSManagementPlanwasapprovedinearly2015andisavailableat:www.env.nm.gov/swqb/wps/Plan.

Our goal is to manage a balanced program that addresses both existing impairments (as listed in the303(d)/305(b) IntegratedReport) and prevents future impairments.The focus on existing impairments isdirectedatimpairedwatersinthreedifferentimpairmentcategories.ThelargemajorityofthesewatershaveoneormoreapprovedTotalMaximumDailyLoads(TMDLs)thatsetquantitativegoalsforimpairmentpa-rameters.TheTMDListhetotalamountofpollutantawaterbodycanassimilatedailyandstillmeetwaterqualitystandards.IncalculatingaTMDLforanimpairedwaterbody,atargetvalueofpollutantloadreduc-tionisalsoprovided.MostofthesestreamsarewithinCategory4Ainthe303(d)/305(b)IntegratedReport.Asmallernumberofprioritystreamsarethoughttobeimpairedbylowflowconditionsratherthanexcessivepollutants.Thirteensuchstreamsarelistedinthe2016-2018303(d)/305(b)IntegratedReportunderCategory4C.Theremainingcategory(Category4B)isforstreamswithsufficientplanningcompletedthataTMDLisnotrequired.SandiaCanyon,anephemeraldrainageonthePajaritoPlateau,isNewMexico’sonlystreamwithanapprovedCategory4Bdemonstration.

Animportantcomponentofthisprocessisthewatershed-basedplan(WBP)approachasoutlinedintheguid-anceprovidedinEPA’sNonpointSourceProgramandGrantsGuidelinesforStatesandTerritories(http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/319-guidelines-fy14.pdf).AWBPexpandsonthein-formationprovidedinaTMDLbyidentifyingcausesandsourcesofimpairment,recommendingmanagementmeasures,estimatingexpectedloadreductionsfrommanagementmeasures,providingmethodstomeasureimplementation success, estimating fundingneeds, andoutliningpotential educationandoutreachefforts.NMEDintendstosupportwatershed-basedplanningthroughacompetitivestatewiderequestforgrantappli-cations(RFGA),conductedapproximatelyannually,andthroughtechnicalsupportprovidedtopartneragen-ciesandstakeholdergroupsinterestedinwaterquality.ThefirstsuchRFGAwasreleasedinNovember2017,andissimilartopastrequestsforproposals(RFPs)forwatershed-basedplanningprojects.Moreinformationonwatershed-basedplanningisavailableatwww.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/wbp.

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2017 Annual Report

NPS Management Program MilestonesNMEDseeks tomeet the long-termgoalof theNPSManagementProgramby takingspecificactionsde-scribedintheNPSManagementPlantakenoverapproximatelyafive-yearperiod.TheNPSManagementPlanincludesatitscorespecificobjectivesaimedatreducingandpreventingNPSpollutioninNewMexico:Watershed-BasedPlanning,AddressingWaterQualityProblems,WaterQualityProtection,EducationandOutreach,ProtectGroundWaterResources,andInteragencyCooperation.Withineachobjectivearespecificactivitiesandmilestonestomeettheobjective.MilestonesareanintegralpartoftheNPSManagementPro-gramandarequirementunderSection319(b)(2)(c)oftheCleanWaterAct.ThefollowingtablelistseachmilestoneidentifiedintheNPSManagementPlanwhichhasaspecificnumericgoalandanestablishedtimeframe,anditsstatus.

Objective number

Objective Short Name

Milestone (abbreviated) Schedule Status

1 Watershed Based Planning

WBPs and related documents are available in an organized web page, which will also provide a WBP submittal process.

2014 This milestone was met in 2015 (www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/wbp/).


A small procure-ment process is de-veloped to update existing watershed plans.

2015 Milestone not met.


New watershed plans meet all nine planning elements, or are accepted by EPA as alternative plans.

2014: 1 plan, 3 wa-tersheds. 2015: 3 additional plans, 9 additional watersheds. 2016: 2 additional plans, 13 additional watersheds. 2018: 1 additional plan, 1 additional watershed.

Not applicable to 2017. One WBP covering 2 priority watersheds (in the Black Canyon Creek watershed) was completed in 2017. In 2014 through 2017, six WBPs covering 62 priority watersheds have been completed.

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2017 Annual Report

Objective number




Existing water-shed-based plans are updated.

2016, 2017, and 2018: 2 plans each year are updated, one plan each year is accepted by EPA.

Milestone not met, although the Cimar-ron WBP was revised in December 2017 (www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/accepted-wbp/) and two other projects in progress include tasks for WBP revision.

2 Addressing Water Quality Problems

Watershed res-toration projects described in watershed-based plans or accepted alternative plans are initiated in two priority watersheds per year.

2 watersheds per year, 2014 through 2018.

This milestone was met. Five Section 319 projects that implement WBPs were initiated in 2017, with planned activities in 11 priority watersheds.


Wetlands Action Plans (WAPs) are implemented in at least one priority watershed per year.

1 watershed per year, 2014 through 2018.

Milestone met. Two River Stewardship Program proj-ects that began in 2017 are in priority watersheds and implement WAPs. These are in the Gallinas River and Comanche Creek watersheds.


Improve water quality in priority watersheds, meet-ing EPA perfor-mance measures (Success Stories).

2 watersheds annually, 2014 through 2018.

This milestone was met with EPA approval of the Nonpoint Source Suc-cess Story for Bluewater Creek (www.epa.gov/nps/nonpoint-source-success-stories), which includes three priority watersheds.

3 Water Quality Protection

NMED will fund post-fire actions that reduce sedimentation and protect aquatic habitat.

Any year in which a major and unnatu-rally intense wildfire occurs in the wa-tershed of a cold or cool water stream.

No major wildfires occurred in 2017.

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2017 Annual Report

Objective number



3 Water Quality Protection

The CWA §303(d)/§305(b) Integrated Report does not indicate an increase in the percentage of assessed stream miles designated as impaired.

The next Integrated Report is scheduled for completion in 2018.

This milestone is not scheduled for 2017.

4 Education and Outreach

Clearing the Waters is pub-lished quarterly.

Quarterly This milestone was met for 2017 with publication of four issues of Clearing the Waters (www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/news-letters/)


Clearing the Waters circulation increases to 2000 by 2018.

2018 This milestone is sched-uled for 2018. Clearing the Waters circulation was 1,608 at the end of 2017, up from 1,321 at the end of 2016.


The Forest and Watershed Health Program Virtual Library experiences an annual increase in internet hits of at least 10% between 2014 and 2018.

Annually Milestone was not met. The Virtual Library (www.allaboutwatersheds.org) had 168,046 hits in 2016 and 169,521 hits in 2017 for a 0.9% increase in traffic.

6 Interagency Cooperation

NRCS reports that agricultural BMPs funded under NWQI or other conservation pro-grams have been implemented, with sufficient details to enable WPS to estimate pollutant load reductions.

Annually Milestone met. WPS staff estimated that one reported NWQI practice, cover crop-ping of 74.2 acres, might meet approximately 1% of the E. coli load reduction goal in an approved TMDL.

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https://www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/newsletters/




2017 Annual Report

Objective number




The NPS Manage-ment Program Annual Report is submitted to EPA by January 31 and made available to the public in February.

Annually Milestone met. The NPS Annual Report was submit-ted in January 2017.


USACE approves a programmatic agreement with NMDOT to estab-lish the framework for an APRM program.

2015 This milestone was met in 2014.


The MOU between NMED and USFS is renewed.

2017 This milestone was met in 2017, with approval of a new MOU in June.


The grant from DOE that sup-ports the work of the DOE Over-sight Bureau is re-issued.

2018 Not scheduled for 2017.


A revised NPS Management Plan is submitted to the EPA Regional Administrator.

2018 Not scheduled for 2017.

The following sections mention groups of approved projects and several individual projects by their titles and project numbers. For a full list of projects and details such as project work plans, see www.env.nm.gov/nmed_319_and_rsp_project_list.

NPS Management Program Objectives Completed in 2017

• ARequest forGrantApplications(RFGA)todevelopcomprehensiveprojects thatwill reviseexistingWBPsordevelopnewWBPswasreleasedinNovember2017,withapplicationsdueinJanuary2018.

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2017 Annual Report

• WPSprovidedcontractoversightandtechnicalassistanceforongoingwatershed-basedplanningprojects.Nowatershed-basedplanningprojectswerecompletedin2017(andnonewerescheduledtobecomplete).Oneprojectcompletedattheendof2015(TheBlackCanyonWatershed-BasedPlan,project12-C)pro-videdmaterialforWPSstafftocompleteanewwatershed-basedplanthatwasacceptedbyEPAinMay2017.WPSstaffworkingwiththeRioPuercoManagementCommitteedevelopedaWBPforportionsofthelargeRioPuercobasinandsubmittedittoEPAforreviewin2017.

• TheCimarronWBPwasrevisedin2017toincludedetailedreachassessmentsconductedaspartofthecompletedPonilCreekRestorationProject,PhaseIIon-the-groundproject(Project14-D).TheMorenoValleyWAPwasalsoincludedasanappendixintherevisedCimarronWBP.

• ARequestforProposals(RFP)forprojectsthatimplementWBPswascompletedin2017.Fivenewproj-ectsbeganin2017underthisRFP.TheseprojectsarefundedwithSection319watershedprojectfunds.

• WPScontinuedtoprovidecontractoversightandtechnicalassistanceforongoingimplementationproj-ects.Twoimplementationprojectsscheduledtobecompletein2017werecompletedasplanned.

• State-fundedwatershedandriparianrestorationprojectsweredevelopedandmanagedin2017.Fifteenprojectswerealreadyinprogressatthebeginningoftheyear,andseveralwerenearingcompletionattheendof2017.AnRFPfornewRiverStewardshipProgramprojectswascompletedin2017,andfourteennewprojectsbeganinthespring.Thelegislativeprocessfornewprojectstobesupportedwithstatefiscalyear2019fundingappearsfavorable.

• ASuccessStorynominationforBluewaterCreekwasacceptedinDecember2017.BluewaterCreekup-streamofBluewaterReservoirwasdelistedforturbidityin2010andnutrientsin2014.TheSuccessStorynominationdescribesaSection319projectimplementedbytheWildEarthGuardiansandmanagementofferalhorsesbytheCibolaNationalForestalongwithstatisticalevidencethatwaterqualityimproved.NewMexico’sNonpointSourceSuccessStoriesaresummarizedathttps://www.epa.gov/nps/nonpoint-source-success-stories.

• NMEDcarriedoutitsresponsibilitiesunderSection401oftheCleanWaterAct,regardingdredgeandfillpermits.TheUSArmyCorpsofEngineersdevelopednewNationwidePermits(NWPs)underSection404in2016,andNMEDcertifiedthemonMarch1,2017(www.env.nm.gov/swqb/404/2017NWPcert.pdf).

• NMEDcarriedout its duties under theNewMexicoMiningAct. SurfaceWaterQualityBureau staffconductedwaterqualityreviewsatactiveandproposedminingsites, reviewedMiningActpermitap-plications,inspectedminesites,andensuredthatminingactivitieswillnotviolatesurfacewaterqualitystandards.Twenty-fourreviewswereconductedintotal,asdetailedinasectionbelow.

• TheSWQBpartoftheNMEDwebsiteandseveralmainsub-pageswerereformattedintoWordPressin2017.Thewebsite’smaincontentwasreformattedandupdatedtoprovidemoreintuitiveaccesstokeyinformation.

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2017 Annual Report

• NMEDstaffpresented informationon theNPSManagementProgram, includingpriorities forSection319andRiverStewardshipfunding,toSoilandWaterConservationDistricts(SWCDs)atthreeregionalmeetingsoftheNewMexicoAssociationofConservationDistricts(NMACD)inJune.ThesemeetingswereheldinTruthorConsequences,Belen,andLasVegas.

NoactivitiesrelatedtofireoutlinedintheNPSManagementProgramwerecarriedoutin2017.NewMexicoreceivedmoderateprecipitationin2017,andexperiencedfewfiresofsignificantsizeorintensity.TheBonitaFirenearCañonPlazareceivedrelativelyhighpublicinterestbecauseofitspotentialimpactstotheVallecitospublicwatersupply(whichusestheRioVallecitos).Withonly170acresinthehighseveritycategory,itwasnotdeemed“major”pertheNPSManagementProgram,however.Thewinterof2017-2018hasseenbelowaverageprecipitation,andcurrentpredictionssuggestthatprecipitationinNewMexicoduringthefirstthreemonthsof2018maybewellbelowaverage.Withabundantfinefuelspresentafterseveralwetteryears,firebehaviormaybesignificantlygreaterin2018thanin2017asaresult.

Interagency Cooperation Highlights

NMEDcontinuestoforgeandmaintainrelationshipstopromoteinteragencycooperation.ThisiscriticalinNewMexicowhereover30%ofthelandandmorethan50%ofperennialstreammilesaremanagedbytheU.S.ForestService(USFS)andtheBureauofLandManagement(BLM).TheNewMexicoWaterQualityProtectionAgreement,aMemorandumofUnderstanding(MOU)betweentheUSFSSouthwestRegionandNMED,wasapprovedinJune2017.Theagreementencouragescollaborativeimplementationofwatershedapproachestorestorewatershedsnotmeetingcleanwater,naturalresource,andpublichealthgoalsandtosustainhealthyconditionsinotherwatersheds.

AcoordinationmeetingwasheldwiththeUSFSonNovember8,2017betweenstafffromthreeofthefiveNationalForestsinNewMexico,theUSFSRegionalOffice,andSWQBprograms.Stafffromthenationalforestsprovidedupdatesonstatusoflandandresourcemanagementplanning(alsoknownasforestplanning)nowunderwayinNewMexico.Forestplanssetmajorgoalsforeachnationalforestoveranexpectedtimeframeoffifteenormoreyears.Thecurrentforestplanswerealldevelopedinthe1980s.TheCibola,SantaFe,andCarsonNationalForestsarenowallatapproximatelythesamestageofforestplandevelopment.Theyareeachmakingfinaleditstotheirforestplansbasedoncommentsreceivedonpreliminarydraftplansduringpubliccommentperiodsconductedin2016and2017.In2018,thesethreeForestsplantoreleasefinalforestplansalongwithdraftEnvironmentalImpactStatementsthatanalyzetheimpactsexpectedfromimplement-ingtheplansandseveralalternatives.TheGilaNationalForestplanstocollectpubliccommentsondraftplancomponentsinspring2018,andtheLincolnNationalForestiscompletingtheirassessmentofcurrentcondi-tionsandresourcesontheForest.

Eachoftheseforestplanrevisionswillcomplywiththe2012PlanningRule,whichrequirescomponentsforthemaintenanceandrestorationoftheecologicalintegrityofaquaticecosystemsandwatersheds,waterqual-ity,andwaterresourcesintheplanarea,includinglakes,streams,wetlands,andsourcesofdrinkingwater.

SWQBMonitoringandAssessmentSectionstaffprovidedupdatesonthe2018-2019CleanWaterActSections303(d)/305(b)IntegratedReport,andontheUpperRioGrandeandSanJuanBasinwaterqualitysurveys.

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2017 Annual Report

EachNationalForestalsopresentedtheirprogressimplementingWatershedRestorationActionPlans,andNMEDandUSFSstaffdiscussedoptionsforselectingprioritywatershedsfortheupcomingnonpointsourcemanagementplanrevision.USFSstaffpresentedinformationonadevelopingRegionalRiparian&AquaticEcosystemStrategythatpromisestorenewForestServiceemphasisoncarefulmanagementofriparianareas.

TheNationalWaterQualityInitiative(NWQI)evolvedsomewhatinNewMexicoin2017.NaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS)staffengagedNMEDstaffinadiscussionaboutprioritywatersheds.NMEDandNRCSagreedtorecommendchangestotheprioritywatershedsforfederalfiscalyear2018,andtheirchangeswereacceptedbytheNRCSRegionalConservationist.TheresultisthatthreenewNWQIwatershedshavebeenaddedintheAnimasRiverwatershedinSanJuanCounty,andthreewatershedshavebeenremovedfromthelistofprioritywatersheds.ThenewlyaddedwatershedsaretheTuckerCanyon-AnimasRiverwa-tershed(hydrologicunitcode,orHUC,140801041003),EstesArroyo-AnimasRiver(HUC140801041004),andFloraVista-AnimasRiver(HUC140801041005).ThesethreewatershedsareinpartoftheAnimasvalleyinNewMexicowiththemostagriculture,andarewithintheareacoveredbythe2016LowerAnimasWater-shedBasedPlan(availableatwww.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/accepted-wbp).FourotherlowerRioGrandewatershedssouthofLasCrucescontinuetobedesignatedNWQIprioritywatersheds.ThesearetheAlamedaArroyo-RioGrande(HUC130301020608),AchenbackCanyon-RioGrande(HUC130301020704),MossmanArroyo(HUC130301020801),andAnthonyWash-RioGrande(HUC130301020803)watersheds.TheArroyoPecos-GallinasRiver(HUC130600010805),RinconArroyo-RioGrande(HUC130301020404),andTonucoDraw-RioGrande(HUC130301020502)watershedswereremovedasprioritywatershedsforNWQI.ThesewatershedswereremovedbecausetherearerelativelyfewqualifiedandinterestedapplicantsforNRCSprogramsinthoseareas.

Relativetoplansfor2017describedinthe2016NPSAnnualReport,NRCSprovidedatableofpracticesimplementedunderNWQIin2017,onpage79 inthesectionbelow,Additional Management Practices by Non-NMED Agencies.Severalofthesepracticesrelatedirectlytowaterqualityimprovement,andsomearesupportingpracticesthatarepartoflargerintegratedsystemsthatareexpectedtoimprovesurfacewaterquality.Forexample,the74.2acresofcovercropreportedareonfieldsneardairieswheremanureisspreadasbothadisposalmethodandtoincreasetheamountoffeedproducedinthesefields.Covercroppinghelpsmanageandretainsoilsinbetweenfeedcrops,andalsoreducesrunoff.Reducedrunoffdecreasestheamountofsedimentandnutrientsleavingthefields,andhypotheticallyreducesloadingofbacteriatothenearbyRioGrande(whichislistedasimpairedbybacteria).

WPS staff used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (within the EPA Region 5 model spreadsheet) to estimate pollutant load reductions for establishment of 74.2 acres of cover crop under NWQI. The cover crop was assumed to be present in four months per year when the acres would otherwise be fallow. Cover cropping reduced sediment loading by approximately 1.6 tons per year, phosphorus by 3 lb/yr, and nitrogen by 5.7 lb/yr. Soil is typically made up of about 1% viable bacteria. If 1% of those bacteria are E. coli (which have a mass of about 1 x 10-12 gram each), then the sediment load reduction equates to approximately 1.45 x 1014 colony form-ing units (CFU) per year of E. coli load reduction. This result averages about 4.0 x 1011 CFU per day, compared with a load reduction goal in the TMDL of 2.5 x 1013 CFU per day at moderately high flows (around 826 cubic feet per second).

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2017 Annual Report

RelatedtothepossibleroleofNWQIintheMossmanArroyoandAnthonyWashwatersheds,themanuredigesterprojectreportedinNPSAnnualReportsfor2014and2015isstillmovingforward,albeitslowly.SouderMillerandAssociates(SMA),onbehalfoftheirclientR-QubedEnergy,Inc.requestedNMEDcom-mentsonascopingletterforanEnvironmentalAssessmentrequiredbecauseofthefederalfundingsource(USDARuralDevelopmentfunds).USDARuralDevelopmenthadissuedasimilarscopingletterin2015,indicatingprojectdevelopmentisdelayedapproximatelytwoyears.

TheNewMexicoDepartmentofTransportation(NMDOT)completedanagreementwiththeFederalHigh-waysAdministrationandtheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineerstoimplementanAdvancePermittee-ResponsibleMitigation(APRM)Programin2014.TheAPRMprogramrequiresmitigationsitestobeprotectedinper-petuitythroughoneofseveralprotectivemeasures.Currently,theNewMexicoLandConservancy(NMLC)isoverseeingapartnershiptocompleteconservationeasementstoprotectthepropertiesinperpetuityasfol-lows.TheTaosLandTrustiscompletingtheeasementfortheNM434CoyoteCreeksite,theRioGrandeAg-riculturalLandTrustiscompletingtheeasementfortheMiddleRioGrandeSitenearBelen,andtheNMLCwillworkontheGilaRiversitenearCliff.DuetoreluctancebytheprivatelandownerattheGilaRiversitetoplacetheparcelinaconservationeasement,NMDOTmayelecttomovetheeasementtoanotherprospectivewetlandlocationnearRuidoso.

TheNMEDConstructionProgramsBureau(CPB)completedanannualreportfor2017,availableatwww.env.nm.gov/construction-programs/reports.The report includesa tabular listofprojects inprogress, someofwhichmayaddressNPSpollutionthroughcentralizationofwastewatertreatment.Forexample,althoughitisnotclassifiedasanNPSproject,theVillageofTijerasproject“CWSRF063”hasasitsgoal“toinstallacommunity-widecollectionsystemthatservesallresidentsandprovidesservicestooutlyingcountyresi-dents.PhaseIIwillprovideservicetoapproximately35residentsin11households.”ThisprojectislocatedinthewatershedofTijerasCreek,astreamwithrecentlycompletednutrientTMDLs.TheCleanWaterStateRevolvingFund(CWSRF)programacceptsfundingapplicationsannually.Eligibleprojectsincludepubliclyorprivately-ownedprojectsthatimplementNPSmanagementprograms.CPBencouragesentitiestoapplyforNPSprojects.

NMEDconductedtwoday-longworkshopsinfall2017,tosolicitearlyinputonthe2019NPSManagementPlanrevision.DubbedtheNonpointSourceAdvisoryCommittee,over50participantsconvergedatGhostRanchnearAbiquiu(onOctober18)andElephantButteLakeStateParknearTruthorConsequences(onNovember15),toshareopinionsandideasonwatershedprioritization,alternativestowatershed-basedplans,keyelementsofsuccessfulprojects,waterqualitymonitoringbypartnerorganizations,andothertopics.AcombinedreportontheseworkshopspreparedbyfacilitatorRosemaryRomerowillbepostedat:www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/nps-plan.

NPS Management Program Objectives for 2018

TheWPShasidentifiedthefollowingactivitiesfromthe2014NPSManagementPlantomeetprogramobjec-tivesin2018.•TheRFGAforcomprehensiveprojectstoreviseexistingwatershed-basedplansordevelopnewwater-shed-basedplansreleasedinNovember2017willbecompletedin2018,withnewprojectsplannedtostart

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2017 Annual Report

Project Number(s)

Project Title Project completion

date

Streams included Number of priority watersheds in project area

14-I UteReservoirWater-shed-BasedPlanforWaterQualityResto-ration(UteReservoirWBP)

January31,2018

CanadianRiver,PajaritoCreek,UteCreek

22

15-S,16-F RioFernandodeTaosWatershedBasedPlan

April1,2019 RioFernandodeTaos 2

16-G Watershed-BasedPlanningwithintheUpperAguaChiquitaDrainageBasin

June30,2019 AguaChiquitaCreek 2

16-H UpperPecosWa-tershed-BasedPlanUpdateandRevision

December31,2018

PecosRiver,HolyGhostCreek,SoldierCreek,CowCreek

5

16-I Watershed-BasedPlanfortheUpperRioGrandeWatershed,ComancheCreekSub-watershed

June30,2019 ComancheCreek 1

16-J RiodelasVacasWatershed-BasedPlan

May31,2020 RiodelasVacas 3

• TheRioPuercoWBPisinreviewbyEPAandmaybeacceptedinearly2018.WPSwillsubmitarevisedUteReservoirWatershed-BasedPlanforEPAreviewbyJune30,2018.WPSalsoplanstosubmitadraftWBPforEmbudoCreek,bySeptember30,2018.

• AnewRFGAforprojectsthatwillimplementWBPs,tobefundedwithSection319watershedprojectfunds,willbereleasedinthefirstquarterof2018.TheresultingnewprojectsarescheduledtobegininsummerAugust2018.

• WPSwill continue toprovidecontractoversightand technicalassistance forongoing implementation

inlatespring,2018.

•WPSwillcontinuetoprovidecontractoversightandtechnicalassistanceforongoingwatershed-basedplanningprojects.Sixwatershed-basedplanningprojectsinprogressarelistedinthefollowingtable.

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2017 Annual Report

projects.ThreeSection319implementationprojectsarescheduledtobecompletein2018. Theseare“On-The-GroundImprovementProjectsfortheUpperGallinasRiverandPorvenirCreekPhaseII”(Proj-ect14-J),“UpperGallinasRiverMonitoring”(Project15-E),and“JemezNationalRecreationAreaRipar-ianProtectionProject”(Project15-T).

• WPSwillseekandattendtraininginprojectmanagementin2018,toimproveoversightandmanagementofprojects.

• State-fundedwatershedandriparianrestorationprojectswillbedevelopedandmanagedin2018.ElevenRiverStewardshipProgramprojectswillbecompletebyJune30,andfourteennewerprojectsaresched-uledtobecompletedafter2018.IftheNewMexicoLegislaturepassesfundingfortheRiverStewardshipProgramduringthe2018legislativesession,anRFPtoselectprojectswillbedevelopedsoonthereafter.

• AtleastoneSuccessStorynominationwillbesubmittedbeforeSeptember1,2018.

• NMEDwillcontinuetocarryoutitsresponsibilitiesunderSection401oftheCleanWaterAct,regardingdredgeandfillpermits.

• NMEDwillcontinuetocarryoutitsdutiesundertheNewMexicoMiningAct.SurfaceWaterQualityBureaustaffwillconductwaterqualityreviewsatactiveandproposedminingsites,reviewMiningActpermitapplications,inspectminesites,andensurethatminingactivitieswillnotviolatesurfacewaterqualitystandards.

• Additionalsub-pageswithintheSWQBpartoftheNMEDwebsitewillbereformattedandupdatedin2018toprovidemoreintuitiveaccesstokeyinformationbyusers.SWQBstaffwillalsocontinuetoen-couragestakeholderstosignupfortheSWQBmailinglist(managedwiththeGovDeliveryemaildeliverysystem)viathelinkonthebottomofmostSWQBwebpages.

• NMEDstaffwillpresentinformationontheNPSManagementProgram,includingprioritiesforSection319andRiverStewardshipfunding,toSWCDsatregionalmeetingsoftheNMACD.

• TheNewMexicoNonpointSourceManagementProgramisscheduledtoberevisedin2019.In2018,adraftNPSManagementPlanwillbesubmittedtoEPAfortechnicalreviewpriortoapubliccommentperiod.

NPS Management Program Problems and Concerns

TheNPSAnnualReportsfor2015and2016describedinternalchallengeswithprocurement.Contractdevel-opmentthroughRFPs,smallprocurements,andcontractamendmentscontinuedtobechallengingin2017.Forexample,themostrecentRFPforwatershedimplementationprojects(supportedwithSection319funds)wasfirstsubmittedforinternalreviewonJuly8,2016.Afterinternalreview,asubstantivelyidenticalRFPwasreleasedonOctober27,2016.ProposalswereduebyDecember22,2016,andfollowingevaluation(including

15


2017 Annual Report

lengthyreviewandapprovalofanEvaluationCommitteeReportbytheStatePurchasingDivision)contractswerefirstsubmittedforreviewonMay24,2017.ThefinalcontractinthegroupwasapprovedonDecember27,2017.Ingeneral,theincreasedtimerequirementiscausedbystricteradherencetoexistingrulesandlawssuchasrequirementsthatvendorsbeproperlyregisteredinseveralstateandfederaldatabases,compoundedbyanabsenceofstableprocedures(withinNMEDandtheStatePurchasingDivision),andworkloadsthatpreventresponsiblestafffromcompletingtimelyreviewsandre-reviewswhenproblemsareaddressed.

Anewprocess isunderwayfor thenextroundofwatershed-basedplanningprojects.Rather thananRFPusedtoselectvendors,aRequestforGrantApplications(RFGA)isbeingusedtoselectagencypartnersandcommunity-basedprivateorganizationswhowillbesubgrantees,followingexamplesofmanyotherstatesfor theirNPSManagementPrograms.Thenewprocess isexpected toeliminate theneedforsomeof theproceduralstepsandrequirementsforRFPsandcontracts,andmaybesignificantlymoreefficient.Asimilarprocessisindevelopmentforthenextroundofwatershedimplementationprojects.

ThebudgetproposedbytheOfficeofManagementandBudget(alsoknownasthePresident’sBudgetRe-quest)wouldeliminateSection319fundsforstatesinfederalfiscalyear2018.AsofJanuary2018bothhous-esofCongressareproposingfundinglevelssimilartotheamountsappropriatedforfederalFY2017(www.acwa-us.org/documents/house-appropriations-fy18-updated-funding-chart/ is a good source of informationonthis).ThedelayinCongressfinalizingthefederalbudgetcombinedwiththezerofundinginthePresident’sBudgethaveresultedinamoreconservativeapproachbyseniorfinancialmanagersatNMED,inwhich(forexample)theNPSManagementProgramhasbeenpreventedfromroutingforapprovalthenewRFGAforwatershedimplementationprojectsmentionedabove.Thisconservativeapproachmayresultinalaginspend-ingthatcouldincreaseNewMexico’sunliquidatedobligations,iffundinglevelsremainrelativelystable.TheincreaseduncertaintycomplicatesNMED’splanningtousefederalgrants.

Onewatershed-basedplanningprojectscompletedin2016,forEmbudoCreek(Project12-H),stillhasnotresultedinanEPA-acceptedwatershed-basedplan.Anotherproject,fortheUteReservoirWatershed-BasedPlanbeingcompletedinJanuary2018(Project14-I),mayrequirein-houseeffortbyNMED,workingwithlocalcooperators, toproduceaWBPthatcanbeacceptedbyEPA.ProjectofficersforseveralotherWBPprojectsreportthattheirprojectsarebehindschedule,oftencitingthelongerthananticipatedperiodrequiredforqualityassuranceprojectplan(QAPP)developmentandapproval.Moretimeisneededtodetermineifadjustmentsmade in 2016 (stating clearer deliverables and stricter terms of payment in agreementswithcooperators)willactuallyresultinahighersuccessrateofWBPprojects,butSWQBstaffarebeginningtocontemplateotherapproachestocompletingWBPsthatmaybedescribedinarevisedNPSManagementPlan.

NoSection319projects(planningoron-the-ground)andnoRiverStewardshipProgramprojectsweretermi-natedprematurelyin2018.Projectsterminatedearlyasdescribedinthe2016NPSAnnualReportwereaffect-edbylackofdetailedplanningorfullcommitmentbystakeholders.Approachestoreducethefailurerateofprojectsweresummarizedinthe2016NPSAnnualReport.InthenewRFGAforwatershed-implementationprojectsdraftedin2017,anewevaluationcriterionwasincludedthatexplicitlyconsiderspastperformance

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https://www.acwa-us.org/documents/house-appropriations-fy18-updated-funding-chart/

https://www.acwa-us.org/documents/house-appropriations-fy18-updated-funding-chart/


2017 Annual Report

bycooperators.In2018,WPSwillseekprojectmanagementtrainingtoimproveoversightandmanagementapproachesofprojects.

Pollutant Load Reduction Reporting

Section319(h)(11)oftheCleanWaterActrequireseachstatetoreporttoEPAonanannualbasis“reductionsinnonpointsourcepollutantloading,”asacomponentoftheNonpointSourceManagementProgramAnnualReport.EPAandNMEDusetheGrantsReportingandTrackingSystem(GRTS)toimplementthisreportingrequirement. EPA set a deadline of February 23, 2018 for reporting 2017 load reductions. Informationreported by NMED for calendar year 2017 is available on line at https://tinyurl.com/NM-2017-Load-Reductions,andwillbecompleteafterFebruary23.

Effectiveness Monitoring of NPS Pollution Controls

TheprimaryEffectivenessMonitoringactivitiesfor2017includedstreamtemperaturemonitoring,sondede-ployments,andstatisticalanalysestodeterminetheeffectsofrestorationprojectsonwaterquality.Additionalactivitiesincludedoutreachpresentations,RFPEvaluations,andtraining.

Ahighlightof2017wasthecompletionoftheBluewaterCreekSuccessStory.Althoughwesubmittedadraftattheendof2016,reviewandpublicationwasdelayedbyEPAduetotheimplementationofanewdatabasesystemforsuccessstories.However,theSuccessStorywaseventuallyacceptedandpublishedinDecember2017,anditdocumentedandcelebratedthehighlysuccessfulfencingandplanting319projectbyWildEarthGuardiansthattransformedthehighlyimpactedanddenudedchannelintoalushriparianforest.Densiometerreadingsat12transectsshowedasignificantincreaseincanopycoverfrom4to57percent,nutrientswerede-listed,andtheANCOVAshowedadecreaseinstreamtemperatureacrosstheentirerange,withameanreduc-tionof1.6°Cduetotheproject.Althoughstreamtemperaturesdecreasedasaresultoftheproject,BluewaterCreekstillexceededthemaximumthresholdof23degreesCelcius,andfurthermonitoringwillberequiredforcompliancewithwaterqualitystandards.

UnfortunatelytheresultsoftheANCOVAcompletedthisyearonMiddlePonilCreekwerealittledifferent.Theanalysisshowednosignificantdifferencebetweenthebeforeandafterregressionlinesrelatingtheup-streamanddownstreamstations.Therefore,wecouldnotclaimthattheprojectdecreasedweeklymaximumtemperatures.

Streamtemperaturemonitoringwasconductedonelevenotherprojectreachestosupportusingtheupstream/downstreambefore/afterstudydesign,withintermediatestationstobrackettributariesandbetterisolatetheeffectsofrestorationwork(seetablebelow).TheOnsetHoboWaterTempProV2loggersrecordedstreamtemperaturesat15minuteintervalsat58stations.ThedeploymentperiodtocapturethesummertemperatureregimestartsinlateMayandearlyJune,andextendstolateOctoberandearlyNovember.AnintermediatevisittomostsitesduringJulyandAugustallowedforanuploadwiththewaterproofshuttle,andinspectionoftheloggers,whichisimportanttopreventdatalossduetoburialinsedimentorexposuretoair.Additionallyduringthemid-summervisits,manyoftheoldertemperatureloggerswerereplacedwithbrandnewloggers

17


2017 Annual Report

topreventbatteryfailure.Fortunatelytheolderloggersdidnotfaileventhoughtheyarenowbeyondtheaveragebatterylifeexpectancyofsixyears.Anotherorderofnewloggerstoreplacetheoldoneswillbeapriorityfor2018.

NewstreamtemperaturestationsprovidedbaselinedatathisyearonHolmanCreek,whichisatributarytoComancheCreek.ThiseffortwasinconjuctionwiththeSWQBWPSWetlandsprogram,whichisplanningrestorationactivitiesintheHolmanwatershed.NewstationsalsoprovidedbaselinedataonChamitaCreeknearChama,toassisttheNMDepartmentofGameandFish,inadvanceofpotentialrestorationwork.

Sondedeploymentsaddedtothepost-implementationdatasetontheRiodelasVacas,butthesedeploymentswereproblematicas theHydrolabMS-5sondesarereachingtheendof their lifespanandweresubject tofrequentmalfunctions.Atoppriorityfor2018willbetoreplacetheseunitswithnewandimprovedmodels.

Asinpreviousyears,theSWQBcontinuedtocollectEffectivenessMonitoringdataonmultiplestreamsin2017todeterminetheeffectsofrestorationprojectsonwaterquality.ThismonitoringprovidedbaselinedataforanewprojectonCowCreek,andadditionalpost-implementationdataforexistingprojectstostrengthenthestatisticalanalysis.

BluewaterCreekaboveBluewaterReservoirbefore(2009)andafter(2016)restoration.Noterocksintheforegroundandcliffsinthebackgroundthatindicatesamephotopointlocation.

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2017 Annual Report

Resultsfrompreliminarydataanalysisareconsistentwiththegeneraltrendobservedinpastyears,wherepeaksummertemperaturesinmanystreamshaveimprovedbutstillexceedthestandardof20°Cforcoldwateraquaticlifeinmanycases.However,theprojectsareexpectedtohavebeneficialeffectswhichwillcontinuetoincreaseasvegetationgrows.Datacollectionandanalysiswillcontinuetoaccountforthelagtime.TheEffectivenessMonitoringCoordinatoralsoparticipatedagainthisyearontheRFPCommitteetoselectprojectsfor319fundingforwatershedplanningprojects.Thecoordinatoristheonlymemberthatparticipateseachyear.Thiswillbethecaseagainin2018forthe319watershed-basedplanningapplicationreviewscur-rentlyunderway.Additionalhighlightsin2017include:• PresentingattheWetlandsRoundtablesinLasCruces,NMinMay;• TouringprojectareasinsouthernNewMexicowithvisitingEPAstaff;• USArmyCorpsofEngineersGeomorphologytrainingbyNaturalChannelDesign;and• Participatinginatwo-dayAdvancedExceltraining.

19

Waterbody 2017 CommentsComanche Creek 2 new sites added on Holman tributary to collect baseline data for wetlands

Keyline design projectRio de los Pinos Temperature monitoring continued for analysis in 2017Middle Ponil Creek Temperature and canopy monitoring conducted by the Cimarron Watershed

Alliance. ANCOVA showed no significant difference before and after the project.

Bluewater Creek Success Story completed and published. San Antonio Creek Post-implementation temperature monitoring continued at all locations in

2017. Redondo Creek Post-implementation temperature monitoring continued at all locations in

2017. Rito Penas Negras Temperature monitoring continued on the upper and lower reaches by SWQB

staff in conjunction with cooperator WildEarth Guardians, who also continued geomorphic and vegetation monitoring.

Jaramillo Creek Post-implementation temperature monitoring continued at all locations in 2017. Projects are in the final stages.

Cow Creek Collected additional baseline temperature data at 4 sites: upstream, down-stream, and bracketing Bull Creek tributary.

Rio de las Vacas Monitoring continued on the Lower Vacas, observed flow cutting into the bank around the ‘Digger Log’ structure. Deployed sondes to measure field param-eters (temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and pH) during the fall index period for nutrient assessment on the Middle Vacas.

Chamita Creek Baseline temperature data collected in five locations in conjunction with NMG&F in anticipation of future restoration projects.

Streams Selected for Effectiveness Monitoring in 2017.


2017 Annual Report

Summaries for 319(h) Projects Completed in 2017

Ponil Creek Restoration Project, Phase II (14-D)

ProjectBudget: CWA319(h):$118,517 Match:$104,150 ProjectTotal:$222,667Watershed: Cimarron(HUC11080002)Sub-watersheds: MiddlePonilCreek(HUC110800020202) SouthPonilCreek(HUC110800020204)

Impairments TMDLsfortemperature,inMiddlePonilCreekandSouthPonilCreek.

Project OverviewMiddlePonilCreek(fromSouthPonilCreekupstreamtoGreenwoodCreek)hasalong-standingtemperatureimpairmentandcorrespondingTMDL.Itwasfirstlistedasimpairedbytemperaturein2000,andatempera-tureTMDLwasapprovedin2001.Downstreamofthere,SouthPonilCreek(PonilCreektoMiddlePonilCreek)waslistedasimpairedbytemperaturein2008,andatemperatureTMDLwasapprovedin2010.

AsdescribedintheCimarronWBP(www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/accepted-wbp),theprimarypol-lutant sourcesaffecting these streamsare lossof riparianhabitat following the2002PonilComplexFire,rangelandgrazing(primarilyburroswithinasmallpastureonPhilmontScoutRanch),wildlife(primarilyelk),androads(includingtheimpactsoflow-watercrossings).

Thisprojectincludedcomponentsonpropertyownedormanagedbyallfourlandmanagemententitiesinthewatershed–PhilmontScoutRanch(ownedbyBoyScoutsofAmerica),theElliotBarkerStateWildlifeArea(managedbyNewMexicoDepartmentofGameandFish),VermejoParkRanch(ownedbyTurnerEnter-prises,Inc.),andtheCarsonNationalForest.RepresentativesfromeachorganizationareactiveparticipantsintheCimarronWatershedAlliance,whichimplementedtheproject.

ThegoalsoftheprojectweretoincreasecanopycoveragealongMiddlePonilCreekwithintheprojectareaby8%(andthustodecreasethesolarloadingwithintheprojectareabyanestimated6.00joules/m2/s),toreducebankfullwidth-to-depthratiosatinstreamrestorationandlowwatercrossingtreatmentsby15%andatexclosurelocationsby5%,andtodecreasedailymaximumstreamtemperaturesatthedownstreamendoftheprojectareaby0.25°C.

Project ActivitiesThisprojectexpandedonthePhaseIPonilCreekRestorationProject(completedin2013)throughconstruc-tionoffiveadditionalelkexclosures,replacementofaboundaryfence,installationoffourreinforcedlow-watercrossings(toreducestreamwidthatroadcrossingsandreducerunofffromroadsastheyapproachthesecrossings),poleplantingof114cottonwoodstoreplacelargetreeskilledbythefire,channelrealignmentinonereach(includingconstructionofabankfullbenchandinstallationoftworockvanesforbankstabiliza-

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2017 Annual Report

tion), drainage improvements along 1.9 miles of an old road now used mainly as a hiking trail, and installation of interpretive signage. Also, detailed assessments of three stream segments in the Ponil Creek watershed were conducted, and this information along with information from the Moreno Valley Wetlands Action Plan were incorporated into an updated Cimarron WBP.

This project was relatively well monitored, with a set of canopy cover monitoring sites (visited before, during, and after project implementation), thermograph deployment (used for statistical analysis of tempera-ture changes), channel morphology monitoring, and photo monitoring. Each of these were used to evaluate the project relative to its goals. The final report for this project, available from www.env.nm.gov/nmed_319_and_rsp_project_list, provides a thorough discussion of monitoring results.

Final Design Drawing that was submitted in 404/401 Permit for Task 6

Task 7, Low Water Crossing StabilizationPre-Project Photo, View from Up-Valley, June 2014 Post-Project Photo,View from Up-Valley, July 2017

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2017 Annual Report

Upper Jaramillo Creek Water Quality Improvement Project (FY15-C)

ProjectBudget: CWA319(h):$223,110 Match:$172,802 ProjectTotal:$395,912Watershed: JaramilloCreek(HUC13020101)Sub-watersheds: EastForkJemezRiver(HUC130202020203) Impairments TMDLsfortemperatureandturbidity.

Project OverviewJaramilloCreekislocatedintheVallesCalderaNationalPreserve,andisatributarytotheEastForkoftheJemezRiveroftheRioGrandeBasin.In2014Thecreekwasnotmeetingthewaterqualitycriteriaforthedesignateduseofhighqualitycoldwateraquaticlifeduetoimpairmentsincludinghightemperatureandtur-bidity.Theprobablesourcesofimpairmentareroadrunoff,rangelandgrazing,streambankdestabilization,andelkherds.TheWildEarthGuardianssetouttoaddresstheseissuesbyplantingandprotectingriparianvegetationtoincreasestreamshadeandimprovechannelmorphology.

Project ActivitiesTheprimarygoalsoftheprojectweretoreducethesolarenergyloading,re-establishandprotectriparianvegetation,andreduceaccessoflivestockandgrazingungulateson2.36milesoftheJaramilloCreek.Thiswasaccomplishedbyincreasingmidstoryandoverstoryripariancanopycoverthroughouttheprojectareafloodplainandsubsequentlyreducingthewidthtodepthratioofthestream.Nativewoodyriparianvegetation

UpperJaramilloPhotoPoint15-08-CrossSection

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May2015September2017


2017 Annual Report

wasplantedthroughouttheprojectcorridortoprovidedirectshadeoverthestreamsurface,includingmorethan32,000willow,400narrowleafcottonwoods,400aspen,400alder,and200riparianforageshrubs.Theincreaseinriparianvegetationshadinghelpedalleviatesolarloading,therebymoderatingandreducingwa-tertemperatures.Additionally,sixcattle/elkexclosureswereconstructedtoprotectapproximately43acresofriparianhabitatfromlivestockandelk.Theplantedwoodyvegetation,aswellasherbaceousstreambankvegetation,andtheexclosuresalsoreducedgrazingimpactstotheriparianecosystemresultinginincreasedbankandgroundcover,widthtodepthratios,streambankintegrity,soilsurfaceroughness,andinfiltration.

23

BrowntroutfromJaramilloCreek,August2016.JaramilloCreekwasopentothepublicforfishingforthefirsttimein2016.


2017 Annual Report

The New Mexico River Stewardship Program

ThegoaloftheRiverStewardshipProgramistofundprojectsthatenhancethehealthofriversbyaddressingtherootcausesofpoorwaterqualityandstreamhabitat.TheRiverStewardshipProgrambuildsonthesuccessofpasteffortswith319CWAfundingandpriorstatefundingforwatersheds,riversandwetlands.

TheobjectivesoftheRiverStewardshipPrograminclude:• Enhancingtheeconomicbenefitsofhealthyriversystems,suchasimprovedopportunitiestohunt,fish,

floatandviewwildlife;• Restoringormaintainingthehydrologyofstreamsandriverstobetterhandleoverbankflowsandreduce

floodingdownstream;• ProvidingmatchrequiredtoleveragefederalCleanWaterActgrants,ensuringthatNewMexicocontin-

uestoreceivethesefunds.

ProjectsareselectedthroughaRequestforProposals(RFP)processthatcomplieswithstateprocure-ment rules.TheRFP evaluation criteria ensure that projects are technically sound, community-based andstakeholderdriven.TheRFPevaluationcriteriafavorprojectsthatimprovewaterquality,enhancefishandwildlifehabitat,supportlocaleconomies,andthatreducedownstreamfloodhazard.TheRFPalsoidentifiedstatewidepriorityareasfortheRiverStewardshipProgramtoinclude:

1. Projectsthataddresswaterqualityandstreamhabitatimpactsassociatedwithfiresin2011,2012,or2013;2. Projectsthatadvancesourcewaterprotectionofpublicdrinkingwatersuppliesthatutilizesurfacewater;3. Projectsthatimproveurbanwaterqualityandstreamhabitat.

Todate, theNewMexicoLegislaturehasappropriateda totalof$4.8million to fundrestorationprojectsthroughtheRiverStewardshipProgram.Thetablebelowprovidesasummaryoffundingbyyear.NoRiverStewardshipProgramfundingwasappropriatedduringthe2017legislature.

Appropriation Year

Amount

(in millions)

Use of funds

2014 $2.3 12restorationprojectswerefunded.Theprojectsweresummarizedin the2015NPSAnnualReportandfulldescriptionswillbepro-videdintheannualreportoftheyearofprojectcompletion(2018orearlier).

2015 $1.0 6restorationprojectswerefunded.Theprojectsaresummarizedbe-lowandfulldescriptionswillbeprovidedintheannualreportoftheyearofprojectcompletion(2019orearlier).

2016 $1.5 8restorationprojectswerefunded.Theprojectsaresummarizedbe-lowandfulldescriptionswillbeprovidedintheannualreportoftheyearofprojectcompletion(2020orearlier).

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2017 Annual Report

The following summaries describe the fourteen new projects that began in 2017 using state funding from the 2015 and 2016 appropriations.

Upper Rio San Antonio Watershed Restoration to Improve Water Quality (17-C)

Project Budget: $246,606

Animas River Restoration Project (17-D)


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Chimayo Conservation Corps, in partnership with Rocky Mountain Ecology, will reduce temperature and sedimentation within the Upper Rio San Antonio Watershed, north of Tres Piedras. The project includes upland and in-stream erosion/grade control structures, riparian plant-ings, small fence exclosures, and supplemental upland ungulate/ live-stock watering sources to reduce grazing of riparian areas.

The Upper Rio San Antonio is wide, shallow, and exposed to the sun. The Upper Rio San Antonio Watershed Restoration project will increase shade and reduce temperature along this reach.

The City of Farmington will improve and restore river and riparian hab-itat in the Animas River. Design solutions include instream structures such as habitat rocks, cross vanes, rock deflectors, and native riparian vegetation planting to promote aquatic life, increase bank stability, and encourage public engagement with the river.

The Animas River at Farmington. This restoration work will modify the existing overwide channel form to address the water temperature impairment.


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Enhancing Aquatic Habitat Conditions in the Galisteo Creek in Galisteo, New Mexico (17-E) Project Budget: $169,942

Gila River Floodplain Restoration (17-F) Project Budget: $149,000

Rewinding the Gallinas River in the City of Las Vegas (17-G) Project Budget: $315,166

Ecotone is improving aquatic habitat conditions and channel geome-try across approximately ten acres of the Galisteo Creek bosque in the Village of Galisteo by increasing stream access across the flood-prone area, reducing excessive streambank erosion, removing invasive, ex-otic trees, and planting willows and cottonwood seedlings.

This segment of Galisteo Creek is incised and a component of this proj-ect aims to reconnect the stream to the floodplain.

Due to a nearly intact natural flow regime, the Gila River in the Cliff-Gila Valley provides high-quality habitat for several rare and declin-ing riparian obligate and aquatic species. Grant County Soil and Water Conservation District will remove and treat Russian olive within the 53-acre area it occupies between Duck Creek and the Gila River, re-move and treat salt cedar in eight acres along a one-mile reach of Duck Creek, and identify and treat scattered salt cedar through a ten-mile reach of the Gila River.

This project will contain and prevent additional establishment of exotic species on the floodplain to protect and enhance existing native plant communities and the stream corridor ecosystem.

Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance will restore ½ mile of the Gallinas River within the City of Las Vegas. As the first phase of a larger effort to create a 20 mile Gallinas River Park and trail, this project will im-prove urban water quality and stream habitat. It also sets the tone and demonstrates river restoration for the larger area. The project reach is currently straight, ditch-like, and lacks riparian vegetation. It neither functions as a healthy river nor carries the image of one to residents. This highly visible location will yield enormous gains for river restora-tion.

The project area consists of an urban stretch of the Gallinas River that is the most degraded section of the river as it flows through the nearby rural and urban areas from Montezuma to the Las Vegas National Wild-life Refuge.

Restoring La Jara Creek from Damage from the Thompson Ridge Fire, Valles Caldera National Preserve (17-H)


Constructing Diverse Native Bosque Habitat on Two River Bars at the Pueblo of SantaAna (17-I)


Restoration of Sawmill and Foreman Creeks, Comanche Creek Watershed (17-J)



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La Jara Creek is a major tributary to the East Fork Jemez River in the Valles Caldera National Preserve. It flows through the Historic Ranch Headquarters area and was severely damaged by the 2013 Thompson Ridge Fire. Los Amigos de Valles Caldera will restore channel and wetland form and function to help protect visitors to the Preserve, re-store at least 65 acres of wetland, and reduce loading of nutrients and sediment to the East Fork.

The main course of La Jara Creek, approximately ¾ of a mile, which is severely gullied, will be treated with a variety of grade control and Induced Meandering treatments such as one-rock dams and baffles to capture sediment and re-create a meandering channel approaching its original grade.

The Pueblo of Santa Ana will restore 27 acres of river bar by remov-ing exotic trees and shrubs, creating low flow channels through high and dry areas, and planting native trees and shrubs. The objectives of the project are to increase wetted habitat and increase and diversify native vegetation cover and structure in this highly modified bosque ecosystem.

High and dry portions of the river bar such as this area of the project will rely on creative earthwork to cut high flow channels into the dry river bar in specific areas to increase wetted habitat.

The Quivira Coalition will restore three creek miles and 72 acres of riparian and slope wetlands in the Foreman and Sawmill Creek sub-watersheds to rewet former wetland areas and increase base flow of cool water entering Comanche Creek. Stabilization and restoration will be completed using techniques from Technical Guide 2: Charac-terization and Restoration of Slope Wetlands in New Mexico: A Guide for Understanding Slope Wetlands, Causes of Degradation and Treat-ment Options.

Downcutting channel below headcut in Sawmill Creek resulting in a loss of acres of floodplain access and with it the inherent capacity of wetland soils to store water.


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Valle de Oro National Urban Wildlife Refuge Riparian, Wetland, and Water Quality Im-provement (17-K)


Two Rivers Park Restoration Project (17-L) Project Budget: $235,621

Bosque del Bernalillo Storm Water Quality and Habitat Enhancement to the Rio Grande Project (17-M) Project Budget: $139,867

Rio Grande Return will assist in the construction and implementation of riparian and wetland habitat within the newly designated Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. Wetland and riparian vegetation will be planted and seeded to stabilize soils, provide wildlife habitat, and improve water quality in storm water runoff events. Other funding is being used to recontour portions of the project area to restore wetland hydrology.

Site plan outlined of Valle del Oro restoration areas. Drainage meadow in blue, current project area in green and future sites in light green. The Rio Grande is located to the west.

Rocky Mountain Ecology (RME), in partnership with the Village of Ruidoso, will implement measures at Two Rivers Park to reduce tem-perature and turbidity within the Rio Ruidoso. RME will plant herba-ceous species along banks, direct public access to specific areas to al-low plants to grow, construct pool habitat in key locations, and remove and replace non-native species such as Siberian elm.

Trampling and extensive use by recreationists has resulted in adjacent banklines and high-use areas devoid of vegetation. This project will address this issue with creative restoration methods.

The Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority (SS-CAFCA) will construct a meander within an existing arroyo to remove the “first flush” storm flows from the arroyo for treatment, and reintro-duce cleaner flows back into the arroyo. This project is a compliance strategy for the watershed-based Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit for the middle Rio Grande that will also stabilize the arroyo and improve the arroyo habitat.

Project artist’s rendering illustrating improved wildlife corridor with storm water fed wildlife drinking sta-tion and pedestrian trail separated by vegetation.

Post-Tres Lagunas Fire and Flooding Restoration Project for Holy Ghost Canyon, Creekand Tributaries (17-N) Project Budget: $144,465

Village of Questa Fishing Park (Reach A) Stream Restoration Project (17-O)


Upper San Antonio Canyon Water Quality Improvement Project (17-P) Project Budget: $137,100


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The Upper Pecos Watershed Association will address erosion and sedimentation from the post-fire flooding in Holy Ghost Creek and in the four major tributary channels contributing the most sediment and water. This will be accomplished using innovative hand-built erosion control structures (including restoration of each tributary alluvial fan as an appropriate landform for sediment deposition) and riparian veg-etation planting.

Three of the four burned tributary channels with 100 to 200 acre watersheds contributed most of the water and sediment to post‐fire flooding in Holy Ghost Creek, and are continuing to erode. This project will address erosion and downcutting in tributary channels.

The Village of Questa will implement stream restoration work within a reach referred to as “Reach A,” located between Eagle Rock Lake and Cabresto Creek. This project seeks to construct fisheries habitat on a reach that is accessible to the public and improve riparian conditions along the banks.

Stream segments such as this in Reach A where historic channel straightening occurred and where the stream has poor access to the floodplain will be target areas for this project.

This project is located on San Antonio Creek in the Jemez Mountains, on the Santa Fe National Forest. WildEarth Guardians will remove and replace degraded fish habitat structures, increase canopy cover via na-tive plant re-establishment, and protect portions of the stream from grazing by elk and livestock. The goal of this project is to increase vegetative shade in the project area to at least 30.1% cover from the existing 13.4%, to help the creek meet its standards for temperature and turbidity.

The lack of riparian vegetation and the resultant absence of shade contribute to the temperature impairment and will be addressed by the project.


2017 Annual Report

COMPLETED RSP PROJECTRed River Town Park Restoration Project

ProjectBudget: $319,722instatefundsWatershed: UpperRioGrande-(13020101)Sub-watersheds: MiddleRedRiver(130201010303)

Project OverviewTheRedRiverflowsthroughtheTownofRedRiver,andtheprojectareaisinthecenteroftownatToniWoerndleTownPark.TheRedRiverhasbeennegativelyimpactedbyhistoriclanduses,including:miningactivities,drainingoflargewetlands,fillinganddevelopingthefloodplain,removalofriparianvegetation,straighteningoftheriverchannel,andinfrastructureencroachmentsontheactivechannel.Intheprojectarea,theriverwasshallow,wide,andcontainedminimalfishhabitat.

TheTownofRedRiversubcontractedwithRiverbendEngineeringtodesigntheprojectbasedonnaturalchanneldesignprinciples.AndamoSanchezExcavationandConstructionconstructedtheproject.Theoverallgoaloftheprojectwastostabilizebanksandtoenhancefishhabitatforrecreationalfishing.Specificobjec-tivesincluded:• Tore-establishthedynamicequilibriumformoftheriver,bymodifyingthedimension,patternandprofileasneeded.• Toimproveterrestrialandavianhabitatwhileprovidingshade,stabilizingthebanks,andcontrollingerosion.• Toimproveaquatichabitatandbiomassholdingcapacity.• Toprovideincreasedrecreationalopportunitiesforpeoplealongtheriver,includingfishing,walking,wildlifeviewing,riveraesthetics,andsafeaccesstotheriverforallages.

PhotopairoftheRedRiverTownParkprojecttakenfromthecenterofthefootbridgelookingup-stream,beforeandduringconstructioninSeptember2016.

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Project OutcomeTheproject treated2,600linearfeetofriverwithanengineereddesignthat included:constructionoffiverockdeflectors,tworockcrossvanesandtworockflowconvergencestructures;andplacementofthreewoodlunkerboxes,bankfillforlowflowsidebars,andseveralhabitatboulders.Maturewillowsandcottonwoodsweretransplantedtobareareasfromareasofdensevegetation.Disturbedareaswereseededandmulched.Theparkiseasilyaccessibleandopentothepublicforrecreation.

COMPLETED RSP PROJECT Rio Grande Corridor at Buckman – Phase II

ProjectBudget: $149,019instatefundsWatershed: RioGrande-SantaFe(13020201)Sub-watersheds: CañadaAncha-RioGrande(130202010203)

Project OverviewTheeight-acreprojectareaislocatedalongtheRioGrandeupstreamoftheCityofSantaFeBuckmanDirectDiversion(BDD),whichdivertswaterfromtheriverformunicipaluse.ThisistheonlylocationinSantaFeCountywithpublicaccesstotheriver.Theareahadgreatpotentialforwildlifehabitat,recreationandoutdooreducationbutwasinadegradedcondition.Non-nativevegetation(Russianolive,saltcedarandSiberianelm)hadchokedthehistoricwillowandcottonwoodbosqueandtheareawasstrewnwithgarbagefromyearsofhumanuse.RioGrandeReturnrecognizedthearea’spotentialandworkeddiligentlytoobtainfundsandpart-nerwithseveralorganizationstoimplementthisproject:BDD;USForestService;USBureauofLandMan-agement;SantaFeCountyandseveralprivatefoundationsandnon-profitorganizations.TheprojectgoalsaretoenhanceandrestoreriparianwetlandstocreaterepresentativehistoricripariancommunitiestypicaloftheRioGrandecorridor,andtoinvolvethelocalcommunityandyouthinenvironmentaleducationandoutreachprogramsrelatedtoriparianecology,hydrologyandnaturalhistory.

Project OutcomeInPhaseII,eightacresofriparianareaweretreatedbyremovingnon-nativevegetation.WildEarthGuard-iansperformedthework.Thewoodydebriswasburnedandremainingstumpswerebrushedwithherbicidetoinhibitre-sprouting.Nativevegetationwasplanted,including300cottonwoodpoles,5,000willowpoles,and100riparianshrubs.Individualcottonwoodswerefencedtoprotectthemfrombeaverwhiletheymature.MonitoringbyRiverSource,Inc.showeda90%vegetationsurvivalrateoneyearafterplanting.PhaseIoftheprojecthadincludedsimilartreatmentof8.5acresdownstreamofthePhaseIIarea.RioGrandeReturnwillcontinuemonitoring,maintenanceandtreatmentofnon-nativeplantre-sproutsusingothergrantfunding,volunteers,andtheirpartners:WildEarthGuardians,RiverSource,Inc.,andYouthConservationCorps.TheUSForestServiceandUSBureauofLandManagementarepleasedwiththeenhancementoftheseuniqueandimportantriparianwetlandsontheirproperties.BothagenciesarecommittedtotheprotectionofBuck-manareaandhaveincreasedsecurity,providedtrashcansandtrashremoval,andevenconstructedavaulttoiletlastyear.Thereareplansforakioskwithatrailmapandinterpretativesigns.Theareaisnolongerbeing

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2017 Annual Report

trashedandover-runbyoff-roadvehicles.Hikers,mountainbikers,fishermanandbirdwatchersareenjoyingthearea.

Beforeandafterphotopairof the backwater channelshowing vegetation at theBuckmanPhase II projectontheRioGrande.

TopphototakenSeptember2016,photoonbottomtakenJuly2017.

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2017 Annual Report

Wetlands Program

Wetlands Program Plan UpdateTheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyapprovedthe2017updateoftheNewMexicoWetlandsProgramPlanonMarch14,2017.TheSWQBWetlandsProgramanditspartnershavemadesubstantialprogressinthede-velopmentofarobustprogramthatfocusesonmeasuresthatwillrestoreandprotectNewMexicowetlands.ThisupdatedWetlandsProgramPlandescribesthelong-termgoalsandachievementsmadesincethisPlanwasapprovedbyEPAin2010,andpreviouslyupdatedin2012and2015.Thelaysoutapathwaytocontinueprogramdevelopmentforthenextfiveyears.ThroughthisupdatedWetlandsProgramPlanwehopetocon-tinueprogresstowardsacomprehensiveandsustainableWetlandsProgramforNewMexico(www.epa.gov/wetlands/state-and-tribal-wetland-program-plans#r6).

Funding Awarded to the Wetlands Program 2017TwonewWetlandsProgramDevelopmentprojectsandonenewpartialprojectwereawarded fundingbyEPARegion6in2017.Thefederalgrantsfortheseprojectstotal$639,558.00infederalassistanceaward-edthroughtheFY17-18EPAWetlandsProgramDevelopmentGrantProgramauthorizedbyCWASection104(b)(3).Theseprojectsadvancethedevelopmentofourstatewidewetlandsprogramandisconsistentwithourapproved10-yearWetlandsAssessmentandMonitoringStrategyand2017WetlandsProgramPlan.

1) “Mapping and Classification of Wetlands in the San Juan River and Estancia Closed Ba-sins, New Mexico” isa4-yearprojecttomapandclassifywetlandsinnorthwesternandnorth-centralNewMexicoextendingourcurrentmappingefforts to theSanJuanRiverandEstanciaClosedBasins.Projecttasksincludeconductingaliteraturesearch,acquiringimagery,assemblinga geodatabase, pre- and post-mappingfield reviews, performing cowardin classification (NWI)wetlandmappingaswellasapplyingthelandscapeposition, landform,waterflowpathandwa-terbodytype(LLWW)classificationfor theprojectarea,assigningwetlandfunctions(proposeddesignated uses) to different wetland types, assigning hydrogeomorphic (HGM) wetland sub-classes,anddevelopingwetlandsclassifiedsegments forwaterquality standards.Outreachandtechnical transfer of results and products to agencies and other user groupswill be conductedthroughout the project.A TechnicalAdvisory Committee will be established to provide guid-ance and expertise.Transfer ofmappingproducts and technologywill includepresentations towatershedgroups,agencies,Tribesandconsortiums,andthecreationofastorymapandsevenmap books.Copies of projectmap products and reportswill be available on theNMEDWet-landsandESRIStoryMapwebsites.Productswill includewetlandsmappingandclassificationcoveringapproximately10,000 squaremiles, (~170quadrangles),preparationof referencema-terials, basemaps, functional correlation, HGM subclass assignments, classified segments, andinformation for two areas of NewMexico where little wetlands information or mapping waspreviouslyavailable.Thisprojectwillmakepreviousandongoingmappingeffortscontiguous.

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2) “East Fork Jemez River Innovative Wetland Restoration Using Contour Swales, Sod Bowls and Sod Berms.” Thisprojectwilldemonstratenewwaterflowrestorationstructuresforhead-waterslopewetlands,andwill restoreat least30acresofwetlandswithina1,200-acreareaattheheadwatersoftheEastForkJemezRiverintheVallesCalderaNationalPreserve.Themainobjective of the project is to develop the innovative contour swale, sod bowl and sod bermrestoration methods to stabilize and re-wet former wetlands where gullies have developed.Thesemethodswillbe shared throughvolunteerworkshops,field trips for agency staff,water-shedgroups, conservationorganizations and thepublic, and througha technicalguidedescrib-ing the design and use of the methods.AWetlandAction Plan (WAP) will be developed forthe entire 38,134-acrewatershed to assistwith future planning aswell as prioritizing sites fordesign and implementation of the project area. Project productswill include theEast Fork Je-mezRiverWAP,30+acresrestoredwetlands, thedevelopmentofnewtechniquesfor restoringslopewetlands(culminatinginatechnicalguideandfactsheetthatdescribeandprovidedetailsoftherestorationtechniques),andtrainedvolunteers,teamleadersandrestorationprofessionals.

3) “Mapping and Classification of Wetlands in the Lower Rio Grande Basin, New Mexico” (This project is currently only partially funded).Projecttasksincludeconductingaliteraturesearch,acquiring imagery, assemblingageodatabase,pre- andpost-mappingfield reviews,performingcowardinclassification(NWI)wetlandmappingandapplyingthelandscapeposition, landform,waterflowpathandwaterbodytype(LLWW)classificationfor theprojectarea,assigningwet-landfunctionstodifferentwetlandtypes,assigninghydrogeomorphic(HGM)wetlandsubclasses,anddevelopingwetlandsclassifiedsegmentsforwaterqualitystandards.Outreachandtechnicaltransferofresultsandproductstoagenciesandotherusergroupswillbeconductedthroughouttheproject.ATechnicalAdvisoryCommitteewillbeestablishedtoprovideguidanceandexper-tise.Transferofmappingproductsandtechnologywillincludepresentationstowatershedgroups,agencies,Tribesandconsortiums,andthecreationofastorymapandsixmapbooks,andcopiesofthefinalreportandinteractivemapspostedontheNMEDWetlandswebsite.Thisprojectwilldesignateclassifiedwetlandsegmentsandidentifywetlandfunctions(proposeddesignateduses)fordevelopingwetlandwaterquality standards.Thisprojectwillmapandclassifywetlands insouthcentralNewMexicoaspartofoureffortstoupdatemappingofallNewMexico’swetlands.TheprojectareaincludestheLowerRioGrandeBasin,theSanAndresandOrganMountainsandcontiguousareas.Thisprojectisverysimilartoproject1onpage33.Productswillincludewet-landsmappingandclassificationcovering13,500squaremiles (~225quadrangles) forareasofsouthernNewMexicowherelittlewetlandsinformationormappingiscurrentlyavailable,andad-joiningpreviousandongoingmappingefforts.Functionalcorrelation,HGMsubclassassignments,classified segments, presentations and interactive mapping resources are additional products.

Wetlands RoundtablesTheSWQBWetlandsProgramconducted2successfulWetlandsRoundtablesintheSpring,2017.TheNorth-

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ernWetlandsRoundtablewasheldonApril27,2017inSantaFeandwasco-sponsoredbytheRockyMoun-tainChapteroftheSocietyofWetlandScientistandbyMikeandJulieBain.Presentationsincluded“USFSSouthwesternRegionalRiparianStrategy,”“ArizonaWetlandsRestorationProjects,”“USGSWetlandsChar-acterization,”“ValledeOroNationalWildlifeRefuge,”“NMEDWetlandsProgramWetlandsMapperandDa-tabase,”WetlandsReserveEnhancementPartnership,”Post-FireRestorationatSantaClaraPueblo,”andanupdatebytheCorpsofEngineersaswellaslivelydiscussionsamongthe50attendees.

TheSouthernWetlandsRoundtablewasco-sponsoredbytheRockyMountainChapteroftheSocietyofWet-landScientistandbyStreamDynamicsandwasheldinLasCrucesonMay16,2017.EPARegion6WaterProgramrepresentativeswereinattendanceandSharonDaughertygaveanEPAWetlandsProgramupdate.OtherpresentationtopicsincludedanupdatebytheCorpsofEngineersandpresentationson“SacramentoMountainsMappingandClassification,”“NewMexicoWetlandsMapper,”“SanVicenteCreekUrbanStormWaterHarvesting,”“HistoryandStatusofWetlandsatHollomanAirForceBase,”“USFSSouthwestRe-gionalRiparianStrategy,”“WetlandsReserveEnhancementPartnerships,”androundtablediscussionsamongthe30+participants.

Wetlands Across Borders WorkshopTheSWQBWetlandsProgramconducted a four-day “WetlandsAcrossBordersWorkshop:Playasof theSouthernHighPlains”meetingDecember12-15,2017.TheWetlandsAcrossBordersWorkshopwasco-sponsoredbytheRockyMountainChapteroftheSocietyofWetlandScientists,PlayaLakesJointVentureandtheRioPuercoAlliance.ThemeetingwasheldinClovis,NewMexicoattheClovisCommunityCollege.Themorningofthefirstdayincludedpresentationsandpaneldiscussionsaboutplayaecology,conservation,

Post-fireFloodingandDebrisFlowHazardsatSantaClaraPueblo(left),and(right)channelrestorationtreatmentsatSantaClaraPueblo,frompresentationgivenbyReidWhittlesey“Post-FireRestorationatSantaClaraPueblo,”atNorthernWetlandsRoundtableonApril27,2017.

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andrestoration,andthehydrogeologyandprojectedusablelifetimeoftheHighPlainsAquiferinCurryandRooseveltCounties,NewMexicoforwhichplayasaretheprincipalpathwayforaquiferrecharge.Theafter-noonsessionprovidedpaneldiscussionsonissuesandsolutionsforwaterresourcesineasternNewMexico.Theresultsindicatethatverylittlere-chargeisoccurringandwaterusageisprincipally fossil water. The City ofClovis MasterWaterAssurance Planwaspresentedasamodelplanforpre-serving and restoringplayas, for sus-tainablyusingaquiferwater,andwaterconservation practices for the future.The meeting was facilitated to dis-cuss issues in an informal roundtableformat. The first day was followedbythreetrackoptions–NewMexicoRapid Assessment Method Train-ing for PlayaWetlands, a Playas andRoadsworkshop,andahalf-dayfieldtrip to look at local playas. Severalparticipants attended from neighbor-ingColorado,TexasandOklahoma.

New Wetlands Program PublicationsTheWetlandsProgramcompleted a newTechnicalGuide,ThePlugandPondTreatment:RestoringSheetFlowtoHighElevationSlopeWetlandsinNewMexico,byBillZeedykandSteveVrooman,usingfundsfrom

WetlandsAcrossBordersMeetingInvitation.

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Keyfeaturesofatypicalplugandpondstructure(From:ZeedykandVrooman2017)


2017 Annual Report

EPAWetlandsProgramDevelopmentGrantCD#00F585-01-0.The“plugandpond”treatmentrestoreswetmeadowlandformsdamagedbychannelincision,andbenefitsadjacentformerwetlandsbyraisingthewa-ter tabletopre-disturbancelevels.Theplugandpondtreatmentreconnectsseasonalflowstowetlandandformerlywetlandsurfaces,cancontroladvancingheadcuts,canreconnectexistingchannels toabandonedchannelsnolongeraccessibleduetochannelincision,andmovefloodflowsbackandforthonpreviouslygullied landforms.TheTechnicalGuidecanbe foundatwww.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/wetlands/technical-guides/.

Wetland Projects Completed in 2017TwoWetlands Program projects funded under CWA Section 104(b)(3)Wetlands Program DevelopmentGrantswerecompletedthisyear.

1) Innovative Restoration of Historic Wetlands along Sulphur Creek, Valles Caldera National PreserveTheprojectareaislocatedonthewestsideoftheVallesCalderaNationalPreserve.TheSulphurCreekWa-tershedis typicalofmanyareasthathaveexperiencedintensivehistoricaluseof thelandscape, includingclear-cuttimberharvesting,heavylivestockgrazing(sheep,thencattle)andhydrothermalexploration.Theseactivities resulted in thecreationofnumerous inadequatelyconstructedandmaintainedroads,overgrazedgrasslands,depletedvegetationinwetlandandriparianzones,erodingstreambanksandadvancingheadcutsthroughoutthewatershed.Theselandusepracticesledtoanincreasederosivetendencyoftheland.Manyslopewetlandshavebecomechannelizedwithnumerousgulliesthatlowerthewatertableanddesiccatethewetlands.

TheSWQBWetlandsProgramworkedwithLosAmigosdeVallesCaldera,threesubcontractorsandnumer-ousvolunteerstodesign,constructanddescribenewtechniquesforrestoringhighelevationslopewetlands.Asuccessfulrestorationprojectwascompletedthatrewetted41.6acresofhistoricwetlandsintheSulphurCreekWatershedoftheVallesCalderaNationalPreserve.TheprojectfocusedondevelopingthePlugandPondTreatmentMethod.Twenty-sixplugandpondstructureswerebuilt.Fifty-twoancillarystructureswerealsobuilt,including:plugandspreadstructures,rockorsodzunibowls,onerockdams,rockrundowns,rocklaybacks,medialunas,contourswales,rollingdips,bypasschannels,treefelling,andelkexclosurefencing.Theprojectrepairedincisedchannelsandnumerousheadcutstoslowtheflowofwater,spreadthewater,raise thewater table to re-hydratehistoricwetlands,and increasewater storage in thewetlands.Pre-andpost-implementationmonitoringwasconductedbetween2013-2017, including:1)vegetationtransects;2)thermographsinstalleddownstreamoftheplugandpondstructurestomeasurethepresenceorabsenceofwater;3)wetlanddelineation;and4)repeatphotopoints.KeycooperatorsontheprojectweresubcontractorsZeedykEcologicalConsulting,KeystoneRestorationEcology,StreamDynamics,Inc.andmanyvolunteersaffiliatedwithAlbuquerqueWildlifeFederationandLosAmigosdeVallesCaldera.Inadditiontoon-the-groundrestoration,severaldocumentswerecompleted.

TheSulphurCreekWatershedWetlandsActionPlan(WAP)waswrittentoidentifywetlandresourcesandplanfor theirprotectionandrestoration. TheWAPdescribes theresourcesandincludesmapsofexistingwetlandsforthewatershed,describesstressors,describesrestoration/protectionefforts,identifiesrestorationsites,andlistspotentialfundingsources.

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ThePlugandPondTreatment:RestoringSheetflowtoHighElevationSlopeWetlandsinNewMexico,byBillZeedyk,SteveVroomanandTamaraGadzia,isawetlandstechnicalguidethatwasdevelopedthroughtheproject.Thisguidedescribesandillustratestheplugandpondtreatmentmethod,includingdesignandcon-structiontechniques,anticipatedresultsandactualresults.TheguidehighlightstheprojectworkperformedinValleSecoaswellaspriorwetlandsplugandpondprojectsalongSanAntonioCreekintheVallesCalderaNationalPreserve.Itisavailableatwww.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/wetlands/technical-guides/.

Resultsofprojecteffectivenessmonitoringwerecom-piledinaSulphurCreekMonitoringReportandthein-formationwascondensedintoascientificarticletitled“Vegetation andHydrologyResponse to theRestora-tion ofTributaryWetlands in theVallesCalderaNa-tionalPreserveUsingthePlugandPondMethod.”

TheProjectresultedinthedesignofrestorationtech-niquesandtheinstallationofrestorationstructuresthatwereeithernewandinnovativedesignsspecificallyforslopewetlands, or designs thatwere successful else-whereandmodifiedforslopewetlandrestoration.

The plug and pond technical restoration techniquesandmonitoring resultswere shared throughfive vol-unteerrestorationworkweekendsbetween2013-2017,throughfourAlbuquerqueWildlifeFederationnewslet-

PhotopairshowingbeforeandafterofaplugandpondstructurelookingupstreaminValleSeco.Left:Chan-nelizedflowinTributary1ofValleSecohaddesiccatedhistoricwetlands(Fall2014).Right:Aplugandpondstructureatthesamelocationspreadwateracrossthevalleyandrewettedthewetlandsintheforeground(Fall2017).

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MachineconstructionofaplugandpondstructurealongSulphurCreek.


2017 Annual Report

ters,afieldtrip,presentationsattwoJemezCFLRPAnnualAll-Handsmeetings,andapresentationatoneNewMexicoWetlandsRoundtable.Twohundredforty-fivecopiesofTheplugandpondtechnicalguidewereprintedandarebeingdistributedtolandowners,landmanagers,watershedgroups,andrestorationpractitio-ners.

2) Rapid Assessment for New Mexico’s Playa Region, Southern High PlainsThisisacontinuationofthedevelopmentofrapidassessmentmethodsforNewMexico’swetlandsandthefirstNewMexicoRapidAssessmentMethod (NMRAM) forconductinga rapidecologicalassessmentofplayawetlands(depressionalwetlands)intheSouthernHighPlains(SHP)ofeasternNewMexico.SpecificprotocolsforevaluatingtenplayawetlandecologicalconditionmetricsusingacombinationofGIS-basedmeasurementsandfieldsurveysweredevelopedresultinginachapterintheNMRAMManual,afieldguide,andinteractivedatacollectionPDFs.Inadditiontodetailsonmetricmeasurements,appendicesareprovidedinthefieldguidethatincludethedatacollectionworksheets,aplantspecieslistwithwetlandindicatorstatus,soilsamplingguidelines,andaglossaryofterms.

New Mexico Rapid Assessment Method (NMRAM)datawerecollectedfrom40SHPplayawetlandsitestodesignandtestanumberofnewrapidassessmentmet-rics.Someoftheuniquechallengesincludeddesigningmetrics for depressional ephemeral wetlands that ac-curatelyreflectwetlandconditionsthatvaryfromyeartoyeardependingonprecipitationandvariableinunda-tion.ThisProjectincludedthecontinuedenhancementsof the SWQB SQUID database to accept and storeNMRAMdata.APlayasNMRAMTrainingwasheldinSeptember2017intheClovis,NMarea.TheprojectculminatedintheWetlandsAcrossBordersWorkshopinClovisdescribedabove.Thismeetingincludedaoneand half day plenary session with discussions aboutSHPplayas,theunderlyingaquifer,andthewaterchal-lengesassociatedwiththeRegion;aPlayasandRoadstwoandone-halfdayworkshop;ahalfdaybustriptovisitlocalplayasandthesecondtwoandone-halfdayPlayasNMRAMTraining.

Throughthisprojectsixmajorobjectiveswereaccomplished.1)Datacollection,analysis,andvalidationforNM’sfirstDepressionalWetlandsNMRAMincludingthedevelopmentofNMRAMPlayaWetlandsFieldGuide1.2andelectronicdatacollectionworksheets,2)ValidationandexpandedutilityofNMRAMtothesoutheasternpartofNewMexico,3)FormationofaTechnicalAdvisoryCommitteewhichmet3timestoprovideinputtoNMRAMdevelopment,withtwotrainingsforpotentialendusers,4)TheNewMexicoWet-landsRoundtablemeetings,5)expansionoftheSQUIDdatabasetoacceptPlayaWetlandsNMRAMdata,and6)theWetlandsAcrossBordersworkshop.ThedevelopmentofNMRAMhasbeensharedlocallyandnationallythroughpresentationsandpublicevents.

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WestsideofNewPondPlaya,ClovisNM.


2017 Annual Report

ProjectOutcomes• TheSWQBWetlandsProgramandpartnersareprovided wetland assessment capability to requirebetterwetlandsprotection,restorationandmitigation.

• Thisprojectcreatesatoolforevaluatingthecon-ditionofNewMexico’splayawetlandsincomparisontoalevelofhumandisturbanceandthatisrelevanttoNewMexico.

• NMRAMisfillingacriticalpieceofanintegrat-edandcomprehensiveapproachtowetlandsprotec-tionbySWQBanditspartners.

• NMRAMwill provide the supporting data andinformation needed to develop water quality stan-dards for subclasses ofNewMexico’swetlands re-sources.

• TheNMRAMcanbeusedtoidentifyreferencestandardwetlandsinneedofspecialprotection,andto identify those that are particularly impacted andthosethatcanberestored.

• As futurewetlandsubclassesaredescribedandassessed, an iterativemonitoringprogram linked to

waterqualityassessmentsbywatershedwillcontinue tobedeveloped,andwill increase thecapacityandunderstandingofecologicallinkages,naturalvariabilityandchangesthatresultfromhumanactivities.

• ThroughourdevelopmentofanintegratedSQUIDdatabaseatSWQB,wetlandsassessmentdatawillbeavailableforinclusioninCWASection305(b)reports,increasingaccesstostakeholdersanddecisionmak-erstoimprovetheirknowledgeandunderstandingofwetlandissues.

• TheoversightofNMRAMwetlanddataatNMEDwillprovide thecapability tocombinewetlanddataandresultswithotherSWQBwaterqualityprogramsthatwillresultinoverallimprovementtowaterresourcesoftheState.

• ExpandingtheWetlandsRoundtabletoincludemeetingsespeciallydesignedandplannedforSouth-ernNewMexico,establishesandsolidifiesnewpartnerships,increasesthecapacityoftheWetlandsProgramtoreachavarietyofstakeholderswithrelevantandup-to-dateinformationanddata-sharingregardingwet-landsinNewMexico.

StudylocationandSamplingsitesforPlayasNMRAMdevelopment.

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2017 Annual Report

Other Water Quality Protection Programs

Monitoring, Assessment and Standards Program

Water Quality SurveysSimilartomanystates,theSWQButilizesatargeted,rotationalwatershedapproachtoambientwaterqualitymonitoring.Beginning in2015, theSWQBbegan implementing two-yearmonitoringsurveys.Themulti-yearapproachallowsforadditionalsamplingeventsandlong-terminstrumentdatacollectionandprovidesanopportunityforamid-surveyassessmenttotailordatacollectioninthesecondyearofmonitoring.Inad-dition,thesurveycanmoreeffectivelycaptureseasonalandannualvariabilityinwaterqualityandmitigatetheinfluenceofextremehydrologicevents,suchasdroughtorflood,occurringinoneyearofthesurvey.The2017-2018waterqualitysurveyfocusesontheUpperRioGrandeandSanJuanRiverwatersheds.Thesur-veyincludessamplingat137monitoringlocationswithin101streamassessmentunitsand5lakeassessmentunitscovering790streammilesand13,115lakeacres.AfieldsamplingplandescribingthesurveydesignisavailablefromtheSWQBwebsiteatwww.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/water-quality-monitoring/.Fol-lowingcompletionofthesurvey,areportsummarizingthedatacollectedwillbeavailablefromtheSWQBwebsite(Spring2019).

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EightYearSurveyPlan


2017 Annual Report

Clean Water Act §303(d)/§305(b) Integrated Report UpdateAsrequiredbytheCWA,everytwoyearsthestateevaluatesthedataithascollected,aswellasreadilyavail-ablewaterqualitydata,todetermineifstatewaterqualitystandardsaremetandassociateddesignatedusesareachieved.Thosewaterswhichexceedwaterqualitystandardsare“impaired”fortheassociateduseandareidentifiedintheStateofNewMexicoCWA§303(d)/§305(b)IntegratedReport(IR).

Accordingtothe2016-2018IR,nearly4,070outof7,734streammiles(53%)haveidentifiedimpairmentswherewaterqualitydoesnotsupportapplicabledesignateduses.Approximately58,408outof89,073(66%),categorizedpublicly-ownedlake,reservoir,orplayaacresdonotfullysupportapplicabledesignateduses.Usingavailabledataassessedagainstcurrentdesignated,existing,orattainableusesutilizingestablishedas-sessmentprotocols,thedepartmenthasfoundthattemperature,nutrient-eutrophication,andE.coliarethethreemostcommoncausesofriverandstreamwaterqualityimpairmentsbasedonstreammileageinNewMexico.NPSpollutionsuchasrangelandgrazing,on-sitetreatmentsystemsandlossofriparianhabitatarethe leadingprobablesourcesof impairmentin New Mexico’s rivers and streams. Thethreemostcommoncausesofwaterqualityimpairmentsinlakesandreservoirsbasedonacreagearemercury infish tissue,PCBs infishtissue,andtemperature.TheStatehasis-suedfishconsumptionadvisoriesforseveralfish species in 26 lakes and reservoirs andthree(3)riversduetoelevatedconcentrationsofvariouscontaminants,includingmercury,dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(DDT),andpolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs).

The 2016-2018 IR and supporting docu-ments are available at: www.env.nm.gov/swqb/303d-305b/.

The state is currently preparing the draft2018-2020 IR. SWQB’s assessment pro-tocol was revised spring 2017 to improvedesignated use impairment determinations(especiallywithrespecttonutrientandtem-perature determinations), andwas renamedtheComprehensiveAssessmentandListingMethodology(CALM).

AssessedStreams,2016-2018IR

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2017 Annual Report

Water Quality Standards Update-Triennial ReviewThefederalCleanWaterAct(CWA)relatedregulationsin40C.F.R.Part131andtheprovisionsintheNewMexicoWaterQualityAct(Chapter74,Article6NMSA1978)requiretheStatetodevelop,review,reviseandadoptwaterqualitystandards(WQS)thatprotectpublichealthorwelfare,enhancethequalityofwater,andservethepurposesoftheCWA.NewMexico’sStandardsforInterstateandIntrastateSurfaceWaters(20.6.4NMAC)establishWQSthatconsistofdesignatedusesforsurfacewatersoftheState,thewaterqualitycrite-rianecessarytoprotecttheuses,andanantidegradationpolicytoprotectthewaterquality.

WhiletheWQSmayberevisedasneeded,theCWAat33U.S.C.§1313(c)(l),andthewaterqualitystandardsrulesat20.6.4.1O(A)NMACalsorequiretheStatetoinitiateacomprehensivereviewandconsequentialupdateoftheWQSrulesfromtimetotime,oratleasteverythreeyears,inaprocessknownastheTriennialReview.

TheSWQBbeganidentifyingprioritiesforthemost-recentTriennialReviewin2012andinitiatedthe2013TriennialReviewwithaninformalscopingphaseforpublicfeedbackduringAprilandMayof2013toiden-tifyprioritiesforpotentialchangestotheWQS.ProposalsforchangesweredevelopedintoadiscussiondraftwhichwasnoticedforpublicreviewandcommentduringAprilandMayof2014.

Throughoutthe2013TriennialReviewprocess,SWQBmetandworkedwithgroupswhenrequestedtodis-cusstheirconcerns.TheSWQBpresentedits2013TriennialReviewproposalstotheWaterQualityControlCommission(WQCC)inpublichearingsheldonOctober13-16,2015.TheWQCCgrantedapprovaloftheproposalsattheSeptember13,2016CommissionmeetingandissuedaStatementofReasonsandFinalOrderfortheproposedamendmentstotheStandardsforInterstateandIntrastateWaters,20.6.4NMAConJanuary10,2017.TheStandards,asapproved,werepublishedandbecameeffectiveforStatepurposesonMarch2,2017.Subsequently,theSWQBsubmittedtheWQCC-approvedstandardstotheEPAonMarch14,2017forfinalapprovalunderCWASection303(c).EPAissuedaTechnicalSupportDocument(TSD)onAugust11,2017providingsupportandcommentontheproposedchangesandapprovedmostprovisionsforCWApur-poses.ThenextTriennialReviewisscheduledtobeginJanuary2019.

ThestandardsproposalsapprovedbytheWQCCandtheEPAinclude: •Changestodefinitionsin20.6.4.7NMACtoincludedefinitionsforMostProbableNumber(MPN),pH,closedbasin,andirrigationstorage. •Segment-specificstandardsforaquaticlifeprotectionsintheMimbresandAnimasRiverbasins. •Anewtemporarystandardprocedurein20.6.4.10.FNMACtoallowtime-limiteddesignatedusesandcriteriaforspecificpollutantsorwaterqualityparametersthatreflectthehighestattainablecon-ditionduringthetermofthetemporarystandard. •Listingof24ephemeralwatersunderSection20.6.4.97NMACpursuanttoSubsectionCof20.6.4.15NMAC.

TheEPAdidnottakeactiononthefollowingWQCC-approvedproposals:• Updatestothepiscicideprovisionin20.6.4.16NMACtodistinguishtheproceduresforapplications

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2017 Annual Report

thatarecoveredandthatarenotcoveredunderanEPANationalPollutantDischargeElimination System(NPDES)permit. •Inaccordancewith20.6.4.10.DNMACaswellasSubsectionsCandDof20.6.4.15NMAC,cre ationoftwonewstandardssegmentsforwaterslocatedwithintheSmelterTailingsSoilInvestiga-tionUnit(STSIU)onChinoMinespropertytodistinguishperennialandintermittentdrainagesfromephemeraldrainages,toestablishsegment-specificcoppercriteriaforacuteandchronicaqua-ticlifeprotections,andtoidentifyexistingandattainabledesignatedusesandthecriteriatoprotectthoseuses.

Use Attainability Analyses and Aquatic Life Use ChangesAUseAttainabilityAnalysis(UAA)isaregulatorytoolestablishedinthewaterqualitystandards(20.6.4.15NMAC)inwhichamulti-facetedapproachisusedtoevaluatetheenvironmentaland/oreconomicfactorsaffectingtheattainmentofauseforawaterbody.TheapplicationoftheUAAprocessisallowedundercer-tainconditionsasstipulatedinthestate’sstandardsandinfederalregulations(40CFR131.10(g)).SWQBhassubsequentlydevelopedanothertool,theHydrologyProtocol(HP),atechnicalprocedureintheWaterQualityManagementPlan(WQMP)whichisarequiredCleanWaterActdocumentapprovedbyWQCCandEPA.TheHPmaybeusedtodistinguishbetweenephemeral,intermittentandperennialstreamsandriversinNewMexico.Italsogeneratesdocumentationoftheattainableaquaticlifeusessupportedbythosewatersasaresultoftheflowregime.TheUAAprocessaloneorincombinationwiththeHPhasbeenappliedtosupportaquaticlifeuserefinementsandrevisionstotheWQS.SuchrefinementsasallowedundertheCWAandtheWQSareimportantbecausetheyhelpassurethatappropriatewaterqualitystandardsareappliedtoawaterbody.

SeveralHPUAAproposalstoclassifyephemeralwaterbodiesandseveralotherUAAproposalstosupportchangestoaquaticlifeusesandsegment-specifictemperaturecriteriaweredevelopedduringthe2013Trien-nialReviewandapprovedbytheWQCCattheSeptember13,2016Commissionmeeting.ThesehavenowbeencodifiedunderNMACasofMarch2,2017andhavebeenreviewedandapprovedbytheEPA.Allin-formationabouttheTriennialReviewincludingtheseUAAproposalsandassociatedpleadinglogfilingsandexhibitsareavailableonlineat:www.env.nm.gov/swqb/Standards/TR2013/index.html.

TheSWQBhasbeenworkingonseveralnewUAAs,somearebeingproposedbytheBureauwhileafewarebeingproposedbyoutsideentitiesorincollaborationwiththeSWQB.TheSWQBhasconcludeditsinvesti-gationsforportionsofTecoloteCreekinSanMiguelCountyandDogCanyonCreekinOteroCounty.TheUAAsdemonstratethatacoolwateraquaticlifeuseisthemostprotectiveaquaticlifeusethatisnaturallyattainableinthesewaters.TheSWQBisscheduledtopresentfindingsbeforetheWQCConJanuary9,2018.TheBureauhasalsoapprovedaUAAworkplanfortheVillageofRuidoso/CityofRuidosoDownsJointUseBoard(JUB)toconductaUAAassessingdissolvedoxygenandtemperaturecriteriafortheRioRuidosoandRioHondo.TheSWQBhasparticipatedinpublicdiscussionsandmeetingswiththeJUBandwillcontinueassistingwiththetechnicalandadministrativerequirementsastheUAAdevelopmentprogresses.Otheranal-ysesofportionsofTijerasArroyo,variousstreamreachesandsubwatershedsonLeeRanchMineproperty,andvariousstreamreachesinandaroundLosAlamosNationalLaboratoryonthePajaritoPlateauareusing

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2017 Annual Report

theHPtodeterminenaturalflowregimesandevaluatetheattainableusessupportedbythesewaters.

Other Standards UpdatesTheSWQBMonitoring,AssessmentandStandardsSectionrecordspotentialwaterqualitystandardsissuesinatrackingspreadsheet.ThisinformationisconsideredandupdatedduringeveryCWASection305(b)/303(d)listingcycleandduringsurveyplanning.Dataneedsforstandardschangesandtheavailabilityofcriticaldataareevaluatedandadditionaldatacollectionsarescheduled,asidentified.Thedataforcandidatestandardschangesarecompiledandusedinthedevelopmentofdocumentstosupportrecommendedrevisions.Depend-ingonthetiming,petitionsforstandardsrevisionscanbeincorporatedaspartofaTriennialRevieworbepresentedathearingsbeforetheWQCCasanindependentstandardsrevision(i.e.,revisionsbetweenTrien-nialReviews).

Inaddition,SWQBhasbeenworkingcloselywithEPAtodevelopatemporarystandardimplementationplan.ThefocusofthisprojectistodevelopnutrienttemporarystandardproposalsforfivedemonstrationfacilitiesinNewMexicothataredischargingintonutrient-impairedwaters.Thisisacollaborativeeffortwiththeaf-fectedNPDESpermittees,EPARegion6,EPAHeadquartersandacontractor,TetraTech.Agoalofthiseffortistodevelopaguidancedocumentthatdescribesastepwiseapproachfordevelopingatemporarywaterqual-itystandardandassociatedmilestones,including:(1)determiningeligibilityforatemporarystandard;(2)ifeligible,justifyingthetemporarystandardbasedon40CFR131.10(g)–forexample,inthedemonstrationprojects,byevaluatingwhetherthecosttoimplementthetechnologythatcouldmeetstandardswouldcausesubstantialandwidespreadeconomicandsocialimpacttothecommunity;and(3)determiningthehighestattainableconditionandtermofthetemporarystandard.TheprojectwasinitiatedinJune2016,aconceptualmodelwascompletedinFebruary2017,and,afterevaluatingthedataandinformationrequirementsforatemporarystandardinNewMexico,TetraTechhasbeenworkingonthesubstantialandwidespreadanalysisforthefirstdemonstrationfacility.AfinaldraftreportofthisanalysisisexpectedinJanuary2018.TetraTechwill thenfocusontheotherfourdemonstrationfacilities,whichareexpectedtobecompletedbyJanuary2019.ThetemporarystandardproposalsforthefivedemonstrationprojectswilllikelycoincidewiththenextTriennialReview,butmaybepresentedtotheWQCCearlierdependingonthecomplexityandprogressoftheReview.VisittheSWQBStandardswebpageforupdates,atwww.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/wqs/.

TMDL UpdateUnder§303(d)(1)oftheCleanWaterAct,statesarerequiredtoidentifywatersofthestatethatarenotmeet-ingtheirdesignatedusesasestablishedin20.6.4NMAC.ATotalMaximumDailyLoad(TMDL)isrequiredforeachpollutantidentifiedinanimpairedwaterbody.TheTMDLisdesignedtoestablishtheassimilativecapacityofawaterbodytoapollutantandstillsupportitsdesignateduses.TheTMDLdocumentalsoservesasanimplementationplantoreducethepollutantloadingandrestorethewaterbodytoitsdesignateduses.

In2017,theSWQBdevelopedTMDLsforSantaFeRiver,GalisteoCreek,andTijerasArroyo.TheSWQBre-ceivedWQCCapprovaloftheSantaFeRiverE.coliTMDLsinAprilandEPARegion6approvalinMay,WQCC

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2017 Annual Report

approvaloftheGalisteoCreektemperatureTMDLsinJulyandEPARegion6approvalinAugust,andWQCCapprovaloftheTijerasArroyoplantnutrientTMDLinSeptemberandEPARegion6approvalinOctober.TheSWQBreceivedapprovalof thedissolvedalumi-numTMDLwithdrawal action for Cieneguilla CreekfromWQCCinAprilandfromEPARegion6inMay.TMDLstaffhostedpublicmeetings inNovemberandDecember fordissolvedaluminumTMDLwithdrawalactionsforWhitewaterCreek,theRioPuerco,andtheRio Chamita. Likewise, TMDL staff will host publicmeetings inJanuaryforaluminumTMDLupdates fortheJemezRiverandMiddleRioGrande.Bothalumi-numTMDLwithdrawalsandaluminumTMDLupdateswill bepresented to theWQCC inMarch2018. TheSWQBplans todevelopadditionalTMDLdocumentsforTecoloteCreekand theCanadianRiverwatershedincludingtheMoraandCimarronwatershedsin2018.

UpdatestotheListofTMDLsandlinkstoapprovedandpendingTMDLsareavailablefromtheNMEDSur-faceWaterQualityBureauTMDLwebpagesat:www.env.nm.gov/swqb/TMDL/List.

OutreachForthefirsttime,SWQBpresentedtheIncredibleJourneyactivitytofourthandfifthgradersattheMcKinleyCountyWater&EnergyAwarenessDaysinGalluponMarch14,2017.Thegoalsoftheeventweretoprovideawarenessandeducationthatwouldleadtowaterwiselifestyles,anunderstandingofsurfaceandgroundwater,andaninvolvementincommunitywaterandenergyconservationandpollutionpreventionprograms.SWQBpresentedtheIncredibleJourneyactivitytofourthgradersagainattheSantaFeChildren’sWaterFi-

esta(September19-20)andtheRioRanchoChil-dren’sWater Festival (October 23-24). SWQBstaff also served on the planning committee fortheRioRanchoChildren’sWaterFestival. Dur-ingtheIncredibleJourneyactivity,studentsrole-playaswatermoleculesthattravelthroughdiffer-entphasesofthewatercycleandalsolearnaboutdailywater usage,water conservation, and howpollutioncantravelthroughoutthewatercycle.

SWQBstaffpresentingtheIncredibleJourney.

GalisteoRiveratCerrillos,NewMexico.

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2017 Annual Report

Ground Water Quality Bureau

Permitting and Compliance Assistance for Large Capacity Septic Tank Leachfields and Surface Dis-posal Facilities UnderObjective5ofNewMexico’sNPSManagementPlan, theGroundWaterQualityBureau(GWQB)workstoprotectgroundwaterqualityfromNPSpollutionattributedtolargecapacityseptictankandleach-fieldsystems(septicsystems)andseptagedisposalfacilities,sludgedisposalfacilities,andlandfarms(surfacedisposalfacilities).Allsurfacedisposalfacilitiesandfacilitiesdischarginggreaterthan5,000gallonsperdayofdomesticwastewatertosepticsystemsarerequiredtoobtainandmaintainindividualDischargePermitsthroughGWQB.EachDischargePermitincludesconditionsandrequirementsintendedtopreserve,protect,andimproveNewMexico’sgroundwaterqualityforpresentandfuturegenerations.

TechnicalpersonnelinGWQBreviewDischargePermitapplication,prepareandissueDischargePermits,performcomplianceassistanceactivitiesforpermittees,andenforceDischargePermitrequirementsforsep-tic systems and surface disposal facilities.Throughout the permitting and compliance assistance process,GWQBstaffprovideoutreachmaterials,assistanceforms,anddirectcommunicationwithpermitteestoaidtheminmeetingtherequirementsoftheirDischargePermits.Inaddition,technicalpersonnelperformroutinesiteinspectionstoensurethatsepticsystemsandsurfacedisposalfacilitiesaredischargingpursuanttotheirDischargePermits.Throughtheseactivities,GWQBcanmonitordischargestogroundwaterandrequirecor-rectiveactionifcontaminationisdetected.GWQBpermittingandcomplianceactivitiesforsepticsystemsandsurfacedisposalfacilitiessupportthegoalofthisprojectbyaidingintheprotectionofgroundwaterfromthesesourcesthathavepotentialtodischargenitrogencompounds,metals,andorganiccompounds.In2017,GWQBIssuedtwelveNew,Renewal,orRenewalandModificationDischargePermits.

New Mexico Water Fair and Water-Quality Outreach ProgramResidentsofNewMexicoprimarilyrelyongroundwaterfordrinkingwater,andinsomelocationsgroundwateristheonlyavailablesourceofdrinkingwater.Sincemanycommunitiesareconcentratedinriverval-leyswheregroundwaterisshallow,theirdrinkingwatersuppliesaresusceptibletocontaminationfromNPSpollution,predominantlyhouseholdseptictank/leachfieldsystems,cesspoolsandinappropriateagriculturalpractices.However, theextent and severityofpotential contaminationofdrinkingwater supplies in ruralcommunitiesofNewMexicoislargelyunknown.Mosthomeownersdonottesttheirdomesticwellwaterforcontaminants,becausetheyareunawareofpotentialcontaminationorfindthecostassociatedwithwatertestingprohibitive.

ToidentifypossibleNPSwaterqualityproblemsinruralNewMexicocommunities,GWQBhasconductedfreetestingofdomesticwells(“WaterFairs”)throughoutthestateforover10years.TheWaterFairProgramreachesouttodomesticwellownerstohelpeducatethemaboutwaterqualityissuesandhowtheycanhelppreserveorimprovewaterqualityintheircommunities.Duringthelastseveralyears,theseactivitieshavebeencarriedoutthroughEPAfunding.TheWaterFairProgramhasproventobeverypopularwiththegeneralpublic,providingavisibleandhighlyappreciatedservicewithvaluableinformationongroundwaterquality

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2017 Annual Report

in rural communities. NMED receives numerous request for water fairs from community organizations,NMEDFieldOffices,andotherState,County,andCityagencies,andprivatecitizens.TheWaterFairPro-gramcontinuestobeanimportanttoolforidentifyingpossibleNPSwaterqualityproblems.

TheWaterFairProgramisalsoagreatoutreachtool.Waterqualityoutreacheventsincludethedemonstrationofagroundwatersimulationmodel(antfarm).Themodelisahands-onvisualaidthattakesdifficultgroundwater conceptsandmakes themunderstandable for all ages.Groundwaterdemonstrationsareoftencon-ductedinschools,communitycentersorstatefairexhibits.ThroughtheWaterFairProgram,manyfamiliesinruralNewMexicohavebecomemoreknowledgeableaboutwaterquality,potentialforcontamination,andpollutionprevention.In2017,GWQBconducted10waterfairs,receivingapproximately500watersamples.Overall,theamountofwaterfairsconductedandthelevelofpublicparticipationin2017provedtobeasuc-cess.

TolearnmoreabouttheWaterFairProgram,visitwww.env.nm.gov/gwb/NMED-GWQB-WaterFairs.htm.

Electrical Conductivity

Sulfate pH

Nitrate Fluoride

Arsenic Iron

TESTS INCLUDE

FREE WELL WATER TESTING PRIVATE WELL WATER QUALITY TESTING

WHEN Saturday, September 30, 2017, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

WHERE Luna County Extension Service Office, 210 B Poplar Street, Deming, NM 88030

NMED and NM-DOH will be offering up to 200 free water tests for private wells serving homes not connected to a public water utility to residents of Deming and surrounding communities in Luna County

HOW TO COLLECT WATER SAMPLE • Fill a clean glass or plastic container, without any strong odors,

with at least a quart or liter of your well water. • Collect the water before it runs through any water treatment/

filters such as an R.O., a carbon filter, or a water softener. If the home has a whole house filtration system, collect the water at the well head.

• Let the water run 2-3 minutes before collecting the sample. • Fill the container with the water as close to the time of testing as

possible.

SPONSORED BY

At the event, we will be collecting information about your well including well coordinates, well depth, depth to water, well casing material (i.e., steel or pvc), and distance from well to the nearest septic tank/leachfield system.

All Information is Voluntary

http://nmtracking.org/water (505) 827-1046

Luna Co. Extension Service

FlyerannouncingtheDemingWaterFairheldSeptember30,2017.

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2017 Annual Report

CWA Section 401 Certification Activities

NMEDstaffcontinuetoprocesswaterqualitycertificationsunderSection401ofthefederalCWA.Thepur-poseoftheSection401waterqualitycertificationistoensurethatSection404“DischargeofDredgeorFill”permitsissuedorauthorizedbytheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers(theCorps)complywithstatewaterqualitystandards.SinceApril2012,theSWQBhasissuedinformalconfirmationofNWPactivities,andformal401Certificationisgenerallyrequiredonlyfor404individualpermitsorwhennewpermitsaredeveloped.

As part of the 401 certification process,NMED consultswith theCorps in development of permits andprocessingprocedures forsituationsspecific toNewMexico.OnMarch28,2017 theVillageofRuidosorequestedtobeaddedtothelistofpermitteesauthorizedtoconductworkutilizingLOPNM-1(MaintenanceActivitiesatCertainExistingStructures/FacilitiesConstructedbyGovernmentAgencies).OnApril5,2017NMEDreleasedanoticeforpubliccommenttoamend401CertificationofLOPNM-1.Nocommentswerereceived.OnMay12,2017NMEDreissued401CertificationofLOPNM-1addingtheVillageofRuidosotothelistofauthorizedpermittees.

Inthefallof2017,NMEDinconferencewiththeCorpsandtheUSBureauofReclamationbegandiscus-sionstodevelopaRegionalGeneralPermitfortheannualmaintenanceoftheRioGrandeChannelbetweenElephantButteandCaballoreservoirstomaintaina5,000cfscapacityasauthorizedunderthefederalFloodControlActsof1948and1950andtoprovideerosion/bankstabilizationworktoprotectriversideproperties.Adraft401CertificationwaspreparedinDecember2017.Thefinalcertificationisanticipatedtobereleasedinearly2018.

OnJanuary6,2017,theU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineerspublishedthenoticeintheFederalRegisterannounc-ingthereissuanceofall50existingnationwidepermits(NWPs),generalconditionsanddefinitionswithsomemodifications.TheCorpsalsoissuedtwonewNWPs,onenewgeneralconditionandfivenewdefinitions.

TheSWQB reviewed theFinalNotice forreissuanceofNationwidePermitsandheldmeetings with USACE to discuss spe-cific elements of the CWA §401 certifica-tion.PursuanttoStateregulations(NMAC20.6.2.2002), theNMEDissuedpublicno-ticeandinitiateda30-daypubliccommentperiodonJanuary10,2017.Nocommentswerereceived.TheNMEDsubsequentlyis-sued conditional §401 certification of Na-tionwide Permits on March 1, 2017. The2017 NWPs officially went into effect onMarch19,2017,andwillexpireonMarch18,2022.

CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification Activities 2017

ConfirmationsCorps Authorizations under NWPs 56Corps Authorizations under LOP NM-1 4Corps Authorizations under LOP NM-2 1Corps Authorizations under Emergency RGP 1Total 62Other ActionsEnforcement 2Individual Permits Certified 2Total 4

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2017 Annual Report

New Mexico Mining Act Activities

TheNewMexicoMiningAct(19NMAC10)obligatestheNewMexicoEnvironmentDepartment(NMED)toreviewandcommentonvariousapplicationsassociatedwithnon-coalmininginNewMexico.Proposedactions range from recreationalmining (suchaspanning forgold) to largemineandmilloperations.Forminimum-impactexplorationapplicationormodificationsofexistingexplorationpermits,NMEDisprovidedanopportunityforformalcomment.Fornewminingoperations,NMEDisresponsibleto“certifythatwaterqualitystandardsareexpectedtobemet”andtodeterminethattheproposedpost-miningcloseoutplanwill“achievecompliancewithallapplicableair,waterqualityandotherenvironmentalstandardsifcarriedoutasdescribed.”Formodificationofexistingoperations,NMEDhastheopportunitytoconcurwithproposedpermitchanges.Commentperiodsaretypicallytwentydaysfromreceiptofanapplication.

NMEDhasaninformalMining-ActteamthatincludesrepresentativesfromtheSurfaceWaterQualityBureau(SWQB),GroundWaterQualityBureau(GWQB),andtheAirQualityBureau(AQB)toreviewminingap-plicationsandotherwisesupporttheworkoftheNewMexicoMiningandMineralsDivision(MMD)ofEn-ergy,MiningandNaturalResourcesDepartment(EMNRD).Thisworkinvolvesreviewingapplications,siteinspections,hydrologicinterpretations,andevaluatingwaterqualitystandardsagainstproposedminingac-tivities.TheSWQBdiscussesBestManagementPractices(BMPs)andothermitigationmeasureswithMMDin an effort to implementminingplans that prevent orminimize environmental risks.The team’swrittencommentsoftenincludeconditionsnecessarytoensurecompliancewithbothstateandfederalenvironmen-talstandards.TheteamalsoparticipatesinmeetingsandreviewsdocumentsincollaborationwithEMNRD,UnitedStatesForestService(USFS),NewMexicoStateLandsOffice(SLO),UnitedStatesArmyCorpsofEngineers(USACE),UnitedStatesEnvironmentProtectionAgency(USEPA),andothers.

In2017,stafffromSWQBreviewednumerousminingnotices,applications,close-outplans,operationsplans,monitoringplans,reclamationplansandrequestsforreleaseoffinancialassuranceorbondingmoneyheldbythestateasaguaranteeformine-sitereclamation.TheSWQBalsoreviewedpermitapplicationsandas-sociateddocumentsforexploratorydrillingprograms,proposednewminingactivities,andmodificationofexistingminingactivities.Twenty-fourreviewswereconductedintotal.

Thefollowingisasummaryexampleofminingpermitactivitiesthatoccurredin2017:

• ApermitrenewalapplicationfortheAncho/Gachupin-BrackettCoalMineandtheYorkCanyonCoalMinewasreviewedbySWQB.Activecoalmininghasended,reclamationhasbeencompleted,andmoni-toringandmaintenanceisongoing.SWQBrecommendedcontinuedmonitoring,maintenance,andrepairswhichmayincludefilling,grading,reseeding,orotherbestmanagementpracticesdesignedtoprotectwaterquality.

• SWQBreviewedanapplicationrequestingpartialreleaseoffinancialassuranceforreclamationworkcompletedattheCunninghamHillMineReclamationProjectinSantaFeCountyandamodificationtotheap-provedcloseoutplan.Groundcoverandwoodyplantdensitywasusedasanindicatortomeasurerevegetation

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2017 Annual Report

Arock-lineddrainagenetworkatthebaseofahill,terracingonthehillslope,andsuccessfulrevegetationeffortspromotesoilstabilityattheCunninghamHillMine.

andevaluate reclamationsuccess.SWQBrecommendedadditionalsoilstability factorssuchascharacter-izationofrills,littermovement,andan-nualproductionforevaluatingreclama-tionsuccess.

• SWQBrecommendedanumberof bestmanagement practices (BMPs)designed to minimize potential waterquality impacts to be included as partof a newpermit for theFruitlandHu-mateMineandthreepermitssubmittedbyMesaVerdeResourcesinMcKinleyCounty. Some of the BMPs includedminimumsetbacks(100feet)fromwa-tercourses, proper road construction,and that maintenance, inspection, andcleaning schedules be kept on-site forallmobileequipment.

• TheLeeRanchCoalMinesubmittedapermitrevisionapplicationwithanewfinalcontourdesignthatreducedtherequiredperformancebondamount.SWQBrecommendedthatthedesignedchannelnetworkconsiderchannelsinuosity,sedimentsize,andthemostup-to-daterainfalldataformodelingthestabilityofthedesignedchannels.

• AnupdateofacloseoutplanandfinancialassurancefortheNoAguaPerliteMineinTaosCountywassubmittedtoMMD.SWQBrecommendedupdatingapplicableenvironmentalpermitsandwaterqualitycriteriaprovidedintheapplication.

• SWQBdiscussedreclamationgoalswithanapplicantforthepartialreleaseoffinancialassuranceforeightacresofearthworkcompletedattheOjoEncinoHumateMineinMcKinleyCounty.Someofthesuc-cessfulreclamationtechniquesincludedtheproperstockpilingandreplacementoftopsoilandperpendicularfurrowsonreclaimedslopesofnearlyflatterrain.Thefurrowsinhibitsurfacerunofffromaccumulatingandalsofunctiontotrapwind-blownseed.

• TheTijerasMineandMillinBernalilloCountysubmittedapermitmodificationtoMMDrequestingtheexpansionofthreenewunitstotaling86acres.SWQBrecommendedupdatingapplicableenvironmentalpermitsandmaximizingtheholdingcapacityofquarrypondsthataredesignedandmanagedtocontrolstorm-waterrunoffgeneratedfromthesite.

• SWQBworkedcloselywiththeMMOtoidentifypotentialwaterqualityissuesthatmayariseasaresultofaproposednewminingoperationinLunaCountynearthecityofDeming.Themine,ifapproved,

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2017 Annual Report

wouldbethefirstnewmineinseveraldecadesinNewMexico.TheminewouldquarrydolomiteneartheFloridaMountainsandprocesstheoretoextractmagnesiuminafacilityneartheMimbresRiver.Impactsattheminesiteareconsideredminimal,buttheprocessingfacilityhasagreaterpotentialaffectonwaterquality.• SeveralpermitmodificationsfortheChinocopperminewerereviewedandreceivedformalcommentfromSWQB.TheseincludedexpandingtheexistingmineboundarytocreateanewwasterockpileattheChinoMine,andtheconstructionoftheCobrehaulroadwhichwillmovegoldandcopperorefromtheCobreMineeightmilessouthtotheprocessingfacilityatChino.SWQBhastakenpartinmulti-agencyfieldinspec-tionsoftheunder-constructionhaulroad.

• TheSWQBreviewedacorrectiveactionplanfortheDemingJiggingPlant.Theplantprocessedman-ganeseduringWorldWarIIandforseveraldecadesafterwards.Thesitewasclosedandreclaimedin2005,butthereclamationhasnotbeenfullysuccessful,duetowinderosionblowingoffthethincovermaterialsthatwereplacedoverthetailings.TailingsarecurrentlyerodingintotheMimbresRiver.Thecorrectiveactionplanwillstabilizethesiteusingthicker,morearmoredcovermaterialanduseamoresite-adaptedseedmixtopromotevegetativecoveraswell.

• TheCopperFlatcoppermineinSierraCountycontinuestogetclosertooperationalstatus.Anewsurveyoftheminefacilitydeterminedthatthepitlakeinboththecurrentandexpandedconfigurationwillremainwhollyonprivatelands,thuseliminatingthepossibilitythatthepitlakecouldbeconsideredawaterofthestateandsubjecttostatewaterqualitystandards.TheUSArmyCorpsofEngineershadpreviouslyissuedajurisdictionaldeterminationthatremovedthelakefromwatersoftheUnitedStatesstatus.

TherecentlyreclaimedCenterMineintheSteepleRockMiningDistrictinGrantCounty.Theop-eratorremovedacid-generatingwasterockpilesandappliedthreefeetofcleancovermaterialandreseededthe3acreminesitein2016andSWQBinspectedthesiteinJuly2017.

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2017 Annual Report

Additional Management Practices by Non-NMED Agencies

The following landmanagement agencies implementedvariousprojects andbestmanagmentpractices inNewMexicothatultimatelycontributetothereductionofNPSpollutantsinsurfacewaters.Themostcom-monNPSissuesbeingaddressedareexcessiveerosion,sedimentation,encroachmentofexoticvegetation,streambankstability,excessivenutrients,andexcessivewatertemperature.

Bureau of Land Management Projects (BLM)

Watershed Project Description Water Quality Benefits

RioHondo

13060008

(RioBonito130600080207)

Prescribedburnon1,447acrespinyon/juniper

• Decrease risk of extreme wildfire andassociatederosion.

RioHondo

13060008

(RioBonito130600080208)

Chemicaltreatmenton382acresofSaltCedar,RussianOlive,SiberianElm,andnoxiousweeds

• Decreasesheetflowanderosion.

• Increasewateryield.

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.

• Improveaquaticandriparianhabitat.UpperPecos–LongArroyo

13060007

(AntelopeTank130600070701,LongArroyo130600071004)

Prescribedburnon13,500acresofgrassandshrubs


UpperPecos

13060003

(SaltCreek-PecosRiver130600031807)

Prescribedburnon183acresofgrassandshrubs


Jemez

13020202

(QuerenciaArroyo

130202020306)

Reconstructabreachedearthendetentiondam,8AF-capacity

• Catchandstoresediment.

• Moderatepeakflows.

• Restore/Improvewetlandhabitat.

• Decreaseerosion.

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2017 Annual Report

BLM (continued)


RioPuerco

13020204

(OutletArroyoChijuilla

130202040104)

Mechanicalstabilizationofa20-ftdeepheadcut

• Preventupstreamexpansionofgullyerosion.

• Reducedownstreamsedimentation.

NorthPlains

13020206

(HeadwatersCebollaCreek130202060501

Ponderosa/juniperprescribedburning(1200acres)

Rockcheckdammaintenance(10checkdams)



• Increasebankstorage.

• Stabilizestreambankstoreduceerosion.

13020101RioGrandefromCOtoRedRiver

150acresthinnedinpiñon-juniperwoodland(GuadalupeMtn.)

• Reduceflooding.


• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.UpperSanJuan

(LaMangaWatershed)

Drillpadreclamation

Roadmaintenance(215miles)

Roadclosure(78miles)


• ImproveforesthealthandCommunityprotection(WUI).

• Increasewaterinfiltration.


• Improveroaddrainage.

UpperSanJuan

14080101

BlancoCanyon

14080103

Seedandlop/scatter290acresofpinyon/juniperencroachment

• Increaseunderstory.


• Increasesoilstability.

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2017 Annual Report

BLM (continued)


UpperSanJuan

14080101

Animas

14080104

4000acresofinvasiveweedtreatment • Decreaseinvasives.



UpperSanJuan,

14080101

BlancoCanyon

14080103

13,270acresofaerialsagebrushtreatment

• Promotesnativeperennialgrasses.



UpperSanJuan,

14080101

BlancoCanyon

14080103

Reservoir/silttrapconstruction/maintenance(8structures)

• ReduceFlooding.

• Increasewateryield.


UpperSanJuan,

14080101

BlancoCanyon

14080103

Chaco

14080106

WellPadFinalReclamation~240ac

WellPadinterimReclamation~45ac

RoadImprovement~100miles

RoadClosure~3miles

• DecreaseErosion.

• ImproveRoadDrainage.

• Promotenativeperennialgrasses.

New Mexico State Forestry Division


UpperRioGrande

(RioChama-RioGrande)

Ponderosa,pinonandjuniperthinning,piling

(92acres)

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.• Decreaseerosion.• Decreaseriskofhighintensitywildfire.• Increaseforesthealthandresiliency.• Increasewaterinfiltration.

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2017 Annual Report

New Mexico State Forestry Division (continued)


RioGrande-Albuquerque(ArroyodelasCalabacillas-RioGrande)

Removalon30.1acresofSaltCedarandRussianOlive.

• Decreasesheetflowanderosion.• Increasewateryield.• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.• Improveaquaticandriparianhabitat.

RioGrande-SantaFe(SantaFeRiver)

Ponderosa,pinonandjuniperthinning,piling

(40acres)


PecosHeadwaters(LakeSumner-PecosRiver)

Prescribedfire,broadcastburn

(116acres)

• Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


SanFrancisco(DeepCreek-SanFranciscoRiver)

Ponderosapinethinning,mastication

(900acres)


RioGrande-Albuquerque(ArroyodelaParida-RioGrande)

SaltCedarandRussianOliveremoval

(536acres)


RioChama

(ArroyoSeco)

Ponderosapinethinning,mastication • Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.• Decreaseerosion.• Decreaseriskofhighintensitywildfire.• Increaseforesthealthandresiliency.• Increasewaterinfiltration.

RioChama

(RioPuerco)

570acresthinnedinPonderosa,pinonandjuniper,pilingandmastication


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2017 Annual Report



PecosHeadwaters(HeadwatersGallinasRiver)

Ponderosapinethinning,chipping,piling

(101acres)

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.• Decreaseerosion.

• Decreaseriskofhighintensitywildfire.• Increaseforesthealthandresiliency.• Increasewaterinfiltration.

PecosHeadwaters(CowCreek-PecosRiver)14080103

Ponderosa,pinonandjuniperthinning,chipping

(44.5acres)


RioPenasco

(UpperRioPenasco)


(1119acres)


Mimbres

(GallinasCanyon-MimbresRiver)


(445acres)


RioChama

(RioPuerco)


(195.1acres)


RioPenasco

(UpperRioPenasco)


(52.8acres)

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.• Decreaseerosion.• Decreaseriskofhighintensitywildfire.• Increaseforesthealthandresiliency.

Increasewaterinfiltration.

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2017 Annual Report



Animas

(CityofFarmington)


(25acres)


RioHondo

(RioRuidoso)

Ponderosa,pinonandjuniperthinning,pilingandmastication

(183.4acres)


JornadadelMuerto(HeadwatersChupaderaArroyo)

Pinonandjuniperthinning,pilingandmastication

(16acres)


RioSanJose(BluewaterCreek)

Ponderosa,pinonandjuniperthinning,pilingandmastication

(443acres)


MiddleSanJuan(OjoAmarilloCanyon)


(327acres)


RioGrande-Albuquerque(ArroyodelaMatanza-RioGrande)


(87acres)


RioGrande-Albuquerque(CanonMonteLargo-RioGrande)


(6acres)

• Decreasesheetflowanderosion• Increasewateryield• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover• Improveaquaticandriparianhabitat.

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2017 Annual Report

U.S. Forest Service Projects

Carson National Forest


UpperRioGrande

13020101

CanadadelOjoSarco

130201010504

Tier3OjoSarcoThinningContract

-Thinningandlop&scatter/pilingofslashinpiñon-juniperandponderosapineforesttypes(275acres)



UpperRioGrande

13020101

RioSantaBarbara–RioPuebloWatershed

130201010906

AmoleGreenFuelwood

-Commercialthinninginponderosa

pineforesttype(115acres)



UpperRioGrande

13020101

HeadwatersRioFernandodelTaosWatershed

130201010601

NorthShadyBrookPilesRXFY17

-Pileburningofactivitycreatedfuels

(70acres)

• Disruptionoffuelcontinuity.

• Decreasefuelloadandfirebehavior.

• Mitigatethreatofhighintensityandhighseveritywildfiresandassociatednegativeimpactstowatershedhealthandfunction.

Cimarron

1108000201

HeadwatersCieneguillaCreek

110800020103

EastLaJaraPileBurnFY17RXFY17

-Pileburningofactivitycreatedfuels

(50acres)

• Disruptionoffuelcontinuity.

• Decreasefuelloadandfirebehavior.

• Mitigatethreatofhighintensityandhighseveritywildfiresandassociatednegativeimpactstowatershedhealthandfunction.

UpperRioGrande

13020101

LaJuntaCreek

130201010901

RoadDecommissioning

-Reslopenaturalcontoursandbuildtanktrapsatpinch-pointstorestrictillegalvehicleandoff-roadaccessonnon-systemanduser-createdroutes.Removenon-functioningculvertsonroutes.(39miles)

-Improved3,426acres

• Reducesedimentationinstreamsbypreventingvehicletrespassinwetmeadows,riparianareas,andacrossstreams.

• Decreaseerosionaldamagecausedbyroutecreationandsoilcompaction.

• Improvewaterdrainageandfiltration.

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2017 Annual Report

Carson National Forest (continued)


BlackCopperCreek

130201010301 BlackCopper/RedRiverGrazingAllotment-RestedAllotment:

10,418acresrestedinwatershedfromgrazingimpacts

• Increaseinherbaceousgroundcover.

• Decreasederosionandimprovedgroundcover.

• RiparianforagealongBlackCopperCreekimproved.

BobcatCreek

130201010301

BobcatGrazingAllotment-RestedAllotment:




ColumbineCreek

130201010303 ColumbineGrazingAllotment-RestedAllotment:


• Increaseinherbaceousgroundcover


• 1.0mileofriparianforagealongBlackCopperCreekimproved.

BullCreek,LakeForkCreek,LagunitasCreekandadjacentHartLake.

130201010302

LakeFork/BaldyGrazingAllotment-

RestedAllotment:




• 3.0mileofriparianforagealongtheheadwatersofBullCreek,LakeForkCreek,LagunitasCreekandadjacentHartLakeimproved.

SawmillCreek

130201010301

SawmillGrazingAllotment-

RestedAllotment:




• Improveriparianveg.toreduceerosion.

MiddleRedRiver

130201010303

LaLamaGrazingAllotment–2000acres

• Improvelivestockgrazingdistributionwithinstallationoftwostocktankdrinkers


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2017 Annual Report



MiddleRedRiver

130201010303

SanCristobalGrazingAllotment–640acres

• Improvelivestockgrazingdistributionbyrejuvenationofdirtwatertanktoimprovewaterholdingcapacity


MiddleRedRiver

130201010303

ForestTrailMaintenance

• YerbaTrail#61–3.9miles

• DeerCreekTrail#69–5.6miles

• Decreaseerosionfromtrailprism.

• Improvetraildrainage.

HeadwatersN.PonilCk

110800020203

Noxiousweedremovalon218.1acresSpecificallytargetingmuskthistle,bullthistleandhoundstongue

• Improveriparianvegetation.

RedRiver

130201010304

QuestaLamaWUI–ElMedioCFRP

67acresofthinning.

• Improvewatershedcondition.

• ImproveforesthealthofPonderosaPineforesttype.

RedRiver

130201010304

• ForestRoadFR132A1stabilization/restorationofdrainageandroadprism-3.4miles



MiddleRedRiver

130201010303

PioneerCy

• ForestRoadFR485stabilization/restorationofdrainageandroadprism-3.3miles

• FR54K,54H,54,54D–5.5miles



CabrestoCreek

130201010302

• Re-establishroadprismandroaddrainageon19.1milesoflevel2roadwithsevereerosionruttingofroadsurface



CabrestoCreek

130201010302


• HeartLakeTrail#115–0.45miles

• LakeForkTrail#82–4.7miles



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2017 Annual Report



UpperRedRiver

130201010301

•FR54,134,54C,UD7_191–5.4miles

•Re-establishroadprismandroaddrainageonlevel2roadwithsevereerosionruttingofroadsurface



UpperRedRiver

130201010301


• EastForkTrail#56–1.3miles

• LostLakeTrail#91–7.1miles

• GooseCreekTrail#65–2.6miles



ArroyoHondo/RioGrande

130201010703

•FR9–3.4miles • Decreaseerosion.


ArroyoHondo/RioGrande

130201010703


• CebollaMesaTrail#102–1.3miles

• SanCristobalTrail#78–3.8miles



HeadwatersArroyoHondo-130201010701

•BullofWoodsROWthrupvt.–1.4miles

•ArroyoHondostreamrestoration–1.0mile

•Upland/RiparianForestthinning–3acres




• Increaseshadetoreducestreamtemperature.


• Increasebankstorage.HeadwatersArroyoHondo-130201010701


• YerbaTrail#61–3.9miles

• WheelerPeakTrail#90–2.8miles

• Decreaseerosion


ComancheCreek

130201010102

•FR1905,1950–13.2miles • Decreaseerosion.


• HardeningofVidalCkstreamcrossingandimprovementofroadacrosswetlandarea.

• Decreasesediment.

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2017 Annual Report



ComancheCk/CostillaCk

130201010103



LatirCk/CostillaCk

130201010104

•FR1950-5.9miles • Decreaseerosion..


MiddlePonilCk

110800020202

•FR1910,1914,1950–Level3=10.6miles

•FR1913–Level2=5.7miles



OutletNorthPonilCk

110800020205

•FR1914,1950–3.9miles • Decreaseerosion.


HeadwatersNorthPonilCk-110800020203

•FR1914,1950–10.9miles

•ValleVidalNE

(WhitmanVega)Rxfire–1,694acres

•WhitmanWildfire–334acres




GreenwoodCy

110800020201



HeadwatersCerrososoCk110800020207

•FR1950onNFlands–4.6miles

•FR1950ROWthrupvt.–11.8miles



OutletCerrososoCk

110800020208

•FR1950ROWthrupvt.–7.8miles • Decreaseerosion.


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2017 Annual Report

64



Alamosa-Trinchera

13010002

PuncheArroyo

130100021806

Watershedplanningon384acres • Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.


• Decreasefirehazard.

• Interagencycooperation.

Alamosa-Trinchera

13010002

AltaLake

130100021805

Watershedplanningon1,978acres • Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.



• Interagencycooperation.Conejos

13010005

BigHornCreek

130100050403

Thinningindrymixedconiferon142acres



Conejos

13010005

RiodeLosPines-RioSanAntonio

130100050202

Watershedplanningon32,559acres

Fenceex-closureon3miles





• Improvementofwatergaponmainsteminordertorestrictcowstoalimitedarea.

RioChama

13020102

ArroyoSeco

130201021101





RioChama

13020102

CanadaBiscara-RioTusas

130201021301





• Decreasefirehazardandassociatederosion.



2017 Annual Report

65



RioChama

13020102

CanadaAlamosa-RioVallecitos

130201021402

Managedwildfireinponderosapineon5,692acres





RioChama

13020102

CanadadeAgua-RioVallecitos

130201021403





RioChama

13020102

CanadadelosComanches-RioTusas

130201021304

Thinninginponderosapineon129acres

Managedwildfireinponderosapineon89acres




RioChama

13020102

CanadadelAgua-RioTusas

130201021304








RioChama

13020102

CedarGroveCemetery-ArroyoBlanco

130201020501

Prescribedburninponderosapineon38acres

Thinninginpiñonandponderosapineon110acres





2017 Annual Report

66



RioChama

13020102

GavilanCreek

130201020103





RioChama

13020102

HeadwatersRioCebolla

130201020502

InstallationofnewroadclosuregatesforTravelManagementSeasonalClosure

• Reducesroaddamageandassociatederosionbyclosingroadsduringmuddyconditionsduringwinter.

RioChama

13020102

JarosaCreek-RioVallecitos

130201020902




RioChama

13020102

LopezCanyon-CanjilonCreek

130201020902

Managedwildfireon37acres


Thinninginpiñonandponderosapineon415acres



RioChama

13020102

MartinezCanyon

130201020903

Managedwildfireinponderosapineon43acres

Thinninginpiñon-juniperandponderosapineon487acres



RioChama

13020102

MartinezCanyon-CanjilonCreek

130201020904






2017 Annual Report

67



RioChama

13020102

MontoyaCanyon-CanjilonCreek

130201020901

Skiddinganddeckingoffelledtreeson80acres


InstallationofnewroadclosuregatesforTravelManagementSeasonalClosure





RioChama

13020102

OutletElRito

130201021103





UpperRioGrande

13020101

130201010202

Watershedplanningon391acres • Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.




UpperRioGrande

13020101

ArroyoPunche130201010401




• Interagencycooperation.UpperRioGrande

13020101

CanondeTioGordito-ArroyoAguajedelaPetaca

130201010803



Prescribedburninponderosapineon1,150acres






2017 Annual Report

68



UpperRioGrande

13020101

CarsonReservoir-ArroyoAguajedelaPetaca

130201010805





UpperRioGrande

13020101

LamyCanyon-ArroyoAguajedelaPetaca

130201010801





UpperRioGrande

13020101

MartinezCanyon-ArroyoAguajedelaPetaca

130201020802





RioChama

13020102

CanadadelosComanches-RioTusas

130201021304

RemovalofWildHorses(1,350acres) • Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.


RioChama

13020102

MartinezCanyon-CanjilonCreek

130201020904

SageBrushTreatment(981acres) • Decreaseerosion.




RioChama

13020102

ArroyodelYeso-ArroyoSeco

130201020905






2017 Annual Report

Cibola National Forest


RioSanJose(13020207)

AguaMedio-BluewaterCreek(130202070201)

PonderosaPinethinning(495acres) • Decreaseriskofuncharacteristicwildfire.

• Decreasepotentialerosionandsediment.


BluewaterLake-BluewaterCreek(130202070206)

PrescribedFire(885acres) • Decreaseriskofuncharacteristicwildfire.

• Improvegroundcover.

• Reducesedimentyield.


BluewaterLake-BluewaterCreek(130202070206)




HeadwatersCottonwoodCreek(130202070202)



69



RioChama

13020102

OjitoCanyon-AbiquiuReservoir

130201021002





Conejos

13010005

CanadadelosRanchos-RioSanAntonio

130100050302

StewartMeadowWatergapFence,0.1mile

• Improveriparianvegetation.

• Reducesedimentationwithinchannel.

• Improvestreambankstabilityandstructure.


2017 Annual Report

70

Cibola National Forest (continued)



OjoRedondo-BluewaterCreek(130202070205)


• Improvegroundcover.

• Reducesedimentyield.


UpperSanMateoCreek(130202070301)



ElephantButteReservoir(13020211)LimestoneCanyon-AlamosaCreek(130202110601)

Streamstabilizationstructures(8acres) • Improvestreamstabilization.

• Reducebankerosion.

• Reducesedimentyields.

RioGrande–Albuquerque

(13020203)

UpperTijerasArroyo(130202030201)

PonderosaPineandPinyon-Juniperthinning(411acres)

• Decreaseriskofuncharacteristicwildfire.


WesternEstancia(13050001)ArroyodeChilili(130500010402)

PonderosaPineandPinyon-Juniperthinning(558acres)

• Decreaseriskofuncharacteristicwildfire.


WesternEstancia(13050001)MestenoDraw(130500011001)



UpperCanadian(11080003)CanonHondo-CanadianRiver(110800030507)

SaltCedarRemovalandRetreatment(85acres)

• Improveripariancondition.

• Improvebankstability.

• Reducesedimentyields.


2017 Annual Report

Gila National Forest


PalomasCreek-RioGrande1303010102(NorthForkPalomasCreek-130301010206)

(SouthForkPalomasCreek-130301010207)

(MudSpring-

130301010204)

(CircleSevenCreek-

130301010205)

HermosaAllotment–entireallotmentwaskeptinnon-useforresourceprotection–approx.44,000acres

• Improvewatershedconditionandherbaceousgroundcoverduetorestingofallotmentfromlivestockgrazingresultinginanincreaseofstabilizedsoils,reductioninrunoff,erosionandsedimentation.

CaballoResevoir1303010104

(SecoCreek-130301010403)

(NorthSecoCreek-130301010401)

HermosaAllotment–entireallotmentwaskeptinnon-useforresourceprotection–approx.44,000acres


HeadwatersAlamosaCreek1302021106

(LittlePigeonCanyon-AlamosaCreek

130202110603)

(WahooCanyon–AlamosaCreek

130202110606)

(SimYatenCanyon–AlamosaCreek

130202110607)

(WildhorseCanyon

130202110608)

NorthWahooAllotment-entireallotmentwaskeptinnon-useforresourceprotection;

SouthWahooAllotment–entireallotmentwaskeptinnon-useforresourceprotection


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2017 Annual Report

72

Gila National Forest (continued)


LittleCreek

150400010603

OutletWestForkGilaRiver

150400010604

StrawFire9,354acres–managedforresourcebenefits


TomMooreCanyon

150400010701

OutletDiamondCreek

150400010406

BlackCanyon-EastForkGilaRiver

150400010705

CorralFire20,478Acres–managedforresourcebenefits


GallinasCanyon–MimbresRiver1303020201

(PowderhornCanyon–MimbresRiver-130302020101)

(AllieCanyon–MimbresRiver–130302020102)

(SheppardCanyon–MimbresRiver–130302020103)

(NoondayCanyon–130302020104)

(NoondayCanyon–MimbresRiver–130302020105)

Mimbres/Powderhorn/SapilloAllotmentrestedexceptforSkatesPasture&KellyPasture-18,673acreswerekeptinnon-useforresourceprotection



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HeadwatersAlamosaCreek1302021106

(LittlePigeonCanyon-

AlamosaCreek130202110603)

(WahooCanyon-

AlamosaCreek-130202110606)

NorthWahooAllotment-entireallotmentwaskeptinnon-useforresourceprotection


AllieCanyon-MimbresRiver

130302020102

McKnightSouthThinning445acrespinyonjuniperrestorationthinning

3-CirclesThinning31acrespinyonjuniperrestoration/WUIthin



• Decreaseriskofextremewildfire.

RockyCanyon-SapilloCreek

150400010802

GattonsParkthinning117acres

Thinning/pullingGrassland,PJ&Ponderosapine

NorthStargrasslandmaintenance10acres




PowderhornCanyon-MimbresRiver

130302020101

NorthStargrasslandmaintenance10acres

Removeduplandvegetationfrom1.4acresalongMimbresRiver

Constructedbankstabilizationfeaturesandwildlifehabitatpools






SapilloCreek-GilaRiver

150400010901

CopperasCreek-SapilloCreek

150400010804

CopperasFire47acres–managedforresourcebenefits



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SwanCanyon150400020602

Bar6thinning–70acres • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.• Thincurrentpinion/juniperstand,

improvinggrasslandrestoration.• ImproveriparianfunctionImproved

watershedconditionresultinginanincreaseofstabilizedsoils,reductioninrunoff,erosionandsedimentationandwaterqualitybenefits.

(HeadwatersThompsonCanyon-150400030403)

JacksPeakroadwork–diversionofrunoff

• Improvewaterqualitybyprovidingbestmanagementpracticesthatreducesedimentationintodrainages.

(WillowCreek-Mangas150400020301)

Willowsolarwellinstallation • Improveddistributionoflivestockgrazing.

(AllieCanyon–MimbresRiver–130302020102)/(SheppardCanyon–MimbresRiver–130302020103)


Allie/AvalancheAllotment–Junipertreatment–15acres

Fencereconstruction-Reconstructed1½mileofallotmentboundaryfencebetweenAllie/AvalancheandRedstoneallotment

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcoverbyimprovingwatershedconditionandlivestock/wildlifedistribution,resultinginanincreaseofstabilizedsoils,reductioninrunoff,erosionandsedimentation.

• Improvethemanagementofthecattledistributionresultinginanincreaseofstabilizedsoils,reductioninrunoff,erosionandsedimentation.

(LakeRoberts–SapilloCreek-150400010803)


JaybirdRx–burned2487acres

SignalFirerehab–treethinningonabout170acres

• Improvedwatershedconditionandherbaceousgroundcoverbuyreducingfuelloadsandminimizingthechancesofacatastrophicwildfire,resultinginanincreaseofstabilizedsoils,reductioninrunoff,erosionandsedimentation.


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75



ElCasoSpringCanyon

150200030201

MiddleMangasCreek

150200030102

UpperMangasCreek

150200030101

SawmillCanyon-LargoCreek

150200030202

BacaWildfiretreated11,414acresofnaturalandactivityslash,grasslands,ponderosapine,andmixedconiferstands

• Decreasedriskofextremewildfirefromprojectslashandhazardousfuelsinadjacentareas.


UpperMangasCreek

150200030101

SlaughterMesa–214acresthinningandremovalofencroachingpinyon/juniper



AlamocitaCreek

130202080407

AlamocitaAllotment8,611acres-entireallotmentwaskeptinnon-useforresourceprotection


ApacheCreek

150400040106

AllotmentApacheCreekWest3,325acres-entireallotmentwaskeptinnon-useforresourceprotection


Lincoln National Forest


RioHondo Thinning-Push(628acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.



2017 Annual Report

76

Lincoln National Forest (continued)


RioHondo Rx(468acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.SaltBasin

ArkansasCanyon-SacramentoRiver

RioPenasco.

PerkCanyon

MonumentFire2017(174acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


TularosaValley.

CottonwoodCreek

RioHondo.UpperRioBonita

WhitehorseFire17(20acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


RioPenasco JIMSPRINGSUNIT92017(72acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.TularosaValley ALAMOPEAKDECKSALES(400

acres)• Decreaseriskofextremewildfireand

associatederosion.

• IncreaseherbaceousgroundcoverUpperPecos-BlackTurkeyCanyon-DarkCanyon

SaltBasin

UpperDogCanyon

Rx(4281acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


RioPenasco Rx2017(1326) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.



2017 Annual Report

77



TularosaValley

HeadwatersAnchoGulch

ArroyoDelMacho.

LavadeDraw

UpperReventonDraw

Thinning(20acres)



RioHondo Thinning17(39acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.

• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.SaltBasin

ArkansasCanyon-SacramentoRiver

TularosaValley

GrapevineCanyon

Salvage(14acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


ArroyoDelMacho

AragonCreek

RioHondo

GypSpringCanyon

Rx(1488acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.



• Increaseherbaceousgroundcover.RioHondo Rx(152acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireand

associatederosion.



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UpperPecos-Black EASTFRIJOLE2017(273acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


RioHondo Thinning17(206acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


RioHondo Mastication(465acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


RioPenasco Mastication(93acres) • Decreaseriskofextremewildfireandassociatederosion.


RioHondo CORADUTTONFWUNIT132017(19acres)





RioPenasco UpperRioPenascoElectricFencing—temporaryelectricfenceinstalledtoprotectriparianhabitatforEndangeredNewMexicoMeadowJumpingMouse

• Stabilizestreambankstoreduceerosionandimproveripariancondition.

RioPenasco UpperAgueChiquitaElectricFencing—temporaryelectricfenceinstalledtoprotectriparianhabitatforEndangeredNewMexicoMeadowJumpingMouse

• Stabilizestreambankstoreduceerosionandimproveripariancondition.


2017 Annual Report

79

Santa Fe National Forest


JemezWatershed

(UpperGuadalupeRiver)

(LowerRioCebolla)

Installed8beaverdamanalogstructures

Vehicleexclusionfencing

• Improvestreamfloodplainconnectivity.

• Increasefloodplainandbankstorage.

• Improvedherbaceousgroundcover.

UpperPecos–CowCreek

Dispersedrecreationsiteimprovements

Streambankstabilization


• Increaseherbaceousandwoodygroundcover.

• Stabilizeerodinghillslopesalongcreek.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service

TheNaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS)providedthefollowingtablelistingpracticesimple-mentedincalendaryear2017(exceptfortheWasteTransfers,whichwerestartedin2017andarescheduledforcompletionin2018).EachwatershedlistedisaprioritywatershedundertheNationalWaterQualityInitiative(NWQI)infederalfiscalyear2017.MoreinformationonNWQIisprovidedaboveinthesection,Interagency Cooperation Highlights.


Achenback–RioGrande(130301020704)

49AcresMicroJetsSprinklers • Decreasednutrient,bacteria,andpesticiderunoff.

Achenback–RioGrande(130301020704)

74.2AcresCoverCrop • Decreasednutrient,bacteria,andsedimentrunoff(andairbornedispersalofE.coli).

ArroyoPecos-GallinasRiver(130600010805)

ForestStandImprovement-129.8acres • ReduceWildfireHazard.

ArroyoPecos-GallinasRiver(130600010805)

FuelBreak-25acres • ReduceWildfireHazard.


2017 Annual Report

80

NRCS (continued)


AnthonyWash-

RioGrande(130301020803)

5,139feetofIrrigationDitchLining • Decreasedsedimentrunoff.

300feetofIrrigationPipeline • Decreasednutrient,bacteria,andpesticiderunoff.

9StructuresforWaterControl • Decreasedsedimentrunoff.

2,275feetWindbreak/ShelterbeltEstablishment

• Decreasednutrientandpesticiderunoff.

• DecreasedairbornedispersalofE.coli.

37.3AcresMicroIrrigation • Decreasednutrient,bacteria,andpesticiderunoff.

15AcresCoverCrop • Decreasednutrient,bacteria,andsedimentrunoff(andairbornedispersalofE.coli).

7.5AcresReducedTill • Manageamount,orientationanddistributionoforganicresiduesomaximumamountsareleftonthesoilsurface.

MossmanArroyo-RioGrande(130301020801)

1WasteStorageFacility • Decreasedsedimentrunoff.


2,108feetWindbreak/ShelterbeltEstablishment

• Decreasednutrientandpesticiderunoff.


1PondSealingorLining,FlexibleMembrane975squareyards

• Reducedleachingofnutrientstogroundwater.

2WasteTransfers • DecreasedairbornedispersalofE.coli.

Documents

State of New Mexico€¦ · Pollutant Load Reduction Reporting 17 Effectiveness Monitoring of NPS Pollution Controls 17 Summaries for 319 ... Program are reported on pages 6-9. Significant